ABSTRACT
The chapter examines the phenomenon of “China fever” in Poland after October 1956, when China’s interference, along with other factors, saved Polish reforms and stopped the Soviet Union from military intervention. Based on documentary research and analysis of archival holdings of press, journals, articles, and individual, in-depth-interviews of key actors from 1950s onward, the author examines whether an increased interest in China was a sort of hidden anti-Sovietism among Poles—the China experts were supposed to use the opportunity of greater access to and understanding of the People’s Republic of China as a screen that masked their discontent with Moscow. It is complemented by other questions: why did China become interesting, if not fashionable, in Poland in the 1950s? Why did some decide to study sinology and make a lifelong commitment?
