My Europe: Good for Politicians as Saviors

My Europe: “Black protest aroused fear of him because he has never seen a woman in his life”, Vladyslav Frasynick said in an anti-government demonstration in Warsaw. Frasynick had in mind this Jaroslav Kaczynski, leader of the ruling party “Right and Justice” ( The PiS) referred to the 2016 protests when thousands of women went out to protest in the street against the rigging of the abortion law.

Frasynick was long considered the possible leader of a broad opposition movement in Poland. He's a legend from the time of “Solidarnost” before 1989, but in recent years it has remained out of political activity. Many in Poland, seeking political representation for numerous civic protests against The PIS, they believed, was precisely predestined to take over the role of the opposition's leading image.

Meanwhile, other popular figures use the same tone as Frasynick. The new leader of the committee for the protection of democracy (KOD) in the same demonstration in Warsaw said that, if I were a woman, I would now have burst my tears, but I am a strong man. ”

One of the PiS deputies was recently publicly pointed out that it needs to prove “ex as therapy”. If he did that, he would have felt good in his body, no pain in the middle and no clear head. In such a condition, you could order your thoughts even better”.

Strong man, weak woman

On another occasion the spokesman apologised for this statement. But that did not help them much. Criticism broke out on all sides. Shovinism and sexism were criticised in the public debate. Great hopes were suddenly struck. Within the night, much political capital was lost and depreciated. But what does this indicate about political life?

Of course I consider, such statements should be criticized. However, they do not seem so much to me as evidence of a spokesman's sexist attitude, but rather they reflect a lack of ability to control his emotions.

Substitiles circulate images of gender roles. A man is basically strong and rational, but not emotional. A woman in the political context is often treated with downplay because she is not predestined to carry the burden of political life.

Depressed sexual disappointments are compensated for by the political struggle for power. In Poland, there is more or less speculation that Yaroslav Kaczynsky is a homosexual who has not openly accepted this. Its political advantage is likely the result of its internal conflict.

The Joy of Emotions and Sexuality 

To counteract all of this, in my opinion, it would be helpful to displace emotions and sexuality in political discurnation. This problem does not affect Poland alone. In the demand that characterize today the so-called Western cultural environment to strictly separate private from public (political), from the humanistic perspective this seems merely artificial and confusing. Should we necessarily stick to this? Politicians are also people. They live up to their feelings, they can be emotional, and sometimes they even talk nonsense. Just like all of us.

An open coverage of political actors with their emotions should be associated with the social excise for the diversity of gender roles. This concept should also apply to political figures. Politicians don't need to have a <x0-human status” which means that they're like without emotion, asexual and with extraordinary power and skill.

The Special Sacrificed for the Community

Severe criticism of the cited statements also exposes a certain image of political leaders, who seem to have some of these critics in mind. This is a Moisian image, referring to 19th century romance. This mosianism is widespread as a thought structure in Central and Eastern Europe, but never only there.

We are dealing here with the image of the ideal leader, who is endowed with almost supernatural forces. Not only is he strong and intelligent but he is also an orient figure who sacrifices himself for the community, for example. To a nation. And what's significant about this “Mois” is always a man.

Jaroslaw Kaczynski ironically fulfills his role for both his supporters and his opponents. According to Moisian logic, only one equal could take up the fight to bring down the PiS from power. We need a superman”!

Local Communication Networks Instead of Moses ' Image

But the role of Moses “vs. ” remains vakant. And so it is. I don't believe that Moisian thinking can be a successful recipe for political renewal of a country. I think more, regional and municipal movements, where people can be organised locally.

Of course, these people need political representation. But decentralised movements protect from strong national leaders, because they do not require unified discurs. Such forms of organization view entry into a local communication network as their fundamental value.

Such a network is an important component of “EUtopi”: If a united Europe will have a chance for sustainable political existence, so I believe, this is the way, which needs to be supported. Such approaches are also available in Poland.

Stanisław Strasbourgr was born in Warsaw. He's a writer and a culture manager. Its main themes are collective memory, migration and multiculturality. He lives in Berlin, Warsaw and Beirut. (DW)