The report titled “Minority policy after the democratic breakthrough: challenges – needs – priorities” edited by Cezary Obracht-Prondzyński, includes, in addition to the author’s Introductory remarks and Introduction, statements from four experts in minority affairs: Ewa Michna, Sławomir Łodziński, Grzegorz Janusz, and Lech N. Nijakowski. Their voices focus on priorities in the field of minority policy.

According to Cezary Obracht-Prondzyński, the issue of a new beginning in minority policy is crucial. The author notes that some initiatives have already been undertaken, some wrongs have been redressed, and certain symbolic gestures demonstrate that the current state policy towards minorities can and intends to be more welcoming.

Among the rationale for this report, C. Obracht-Prondzyński cites an attempt to determine the degree of variation in “Kashubian intensity” within the territory inhabited by Kashubs. The Kashubian region has been divided into three levels of Kashubian intensity: “the Kashubian core,” “the Kashubian buffer zone,” and “the Kashubian periphery.” The intense migration, urbanization, demographic, and other processes taking place in the Pomeranian Voivodeship, and therefore also in Kashubia, significantly impact the social, ethnic, and cultural makeup of this region.

Ewa Michna, in turn, discusses the challenges facing state policy towards minorities. She points to the lack of trust among minorities in the state and dissatisfaction with the institutional environment in which it operates. The author also discusses the document “Opening balance-sheet 2023,” presenting the most important issues affecting the community of national and ethnic minorities in the Republic of Poland. Michna believes that it is crucial to give appropriate priority to minority policy in order to restore minority trust in the state and its institutions. The researcher also proposes convening a “round table” – a forum for meeting and dialogue, as well as focusing on increasing subsidies for minorities. Sławomir Łodziński also addressed the challenges of state policy towards minorities in this report, referencing the 2023 Opening balance-sheet. This expert highlights the following challenges: raising the profile of state policy towards national minorities within the central administration and radically depoliticizing it; the level and methods of financing cultural activities of minorities; the functioning of minority education; streamlining the work of the Joint Commission of Government and National and Ethnic Minorities [KWRiMNiE]; greater use of the experience of international institutions; and planning and organizing the 2031 census.

Referring to the Act on National and Ethnic Minorities and Regional Languages [2005] and other documents, Grzegorz Janusz presents proposals for changes that would modernize and facilitate the functioning of various minorities. The author also provides examples of structures implementing minority policy in selected countries: Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, and Slovakia.

Meanwhile, Lech N. Nijakowski advocates for changes in Poland’s policy towards minorities. He lists the Roma as those who desire integration into Polish society, but do not want the state to provide a way for them to maintain their cultural continuity. Another of the author’s postulates is to ensure proper schooling [because it ensures adaptation] – an adequate number of textbooks and the teaching of minority language.