Authors

Discussion

In the recent scholarship related to Polish and even Central and Eastern European intellectual history, one can come across statements suggesting that the region did not produce bold, original, utopian visions of sociopolitical transformations. In my paper, I attempt to challenge this preconceived contention, both on an empirical and methodological level. Utilizing examples of 19th-century Polish utopias, I argue that the existing conditions doomed them to a twofold form of failure. Not only, like Western European utopias, were they not implemented (nor were attempts made to realize them), but they also failed to influence the boundaries of political imagination and steer it into more daring visions.

Such a situation stemmed from three factors: 1) Utopian works could not be published and remainedas manuscripts for decades; 2) Such projects did not take on typical utopian forms; 3) Utopian visions were presented under the guise of moderation, and even conservatives were encouraged for their realization. These three factors will be elaborated and illustrated by specific examples from the epoch.

In conclusion, I argue that detecting regional utopianism requires particular vigilance in research and attentiveness to local specifics. Otherwise, utopian visions from the past might become triply unfulfilled, losing their significance also in historiographical insights.