Religion and Right Wing Populism in Poland: Impacts, Causes, Prospects

Abstract

The influence of right wing populism in Poland has grown in recent years, especially under the PiS goverments (2005-7 and 2015-). Catholic nationalism has been an important symbolic and discursive resource for its mobilisation. This article considers the reasons for this growth, the impact on minority groups and and sensitive issues (refugees, religious minorities, LGBT, women's reproductive rights), examines resistance to it, and considers future prospects.