SEARCHING FOR PROSPERITY, DEMOCRACY, AND PEACE - the comparative study of the United States and Poland

• In Event: Roundtable Session 6
  In Refereed Roundtable Session: Citizenship education: Learning for Sustainable, Democratic, and Peaceful Societies

Proposal

This comparative analysis based on the developmental and educational trends in the United States and Poland. My developmental reflections have many layers of meaning. I want to present a story about education, leadership, and democracy as basic ingredients for successful economic and social development. In the last thirty years, Poland has optimized the paths of growth, whereas the United States has failed to develop and prosper harmoniously. This comparative analysis with opposite trajectories of economic and social growth serves a reminder. Politicians, economists, and educators can lead us towards prosperity and social cohesion, or they can doom us to failure. In a post global, multipolar world, Poland has become a winner, and the United States has become a loser of the new order. The United States lost its position as a global superpower. Meanwhile, Poland has gained influence internationally thanks to rapid economic growth and joining the EU. In the last thirty years, Poland moved from poverty and totalitarianism towards prosperity and democracy. At the same time, the United States shifted towards totalitarianism and poverty. Comparing these opposite paths of development contributes to understanding of development in the new era. I would like to highlight Polish strategies for development in the post global environment. I would also look at American policies and leadership styles that led to the decay of the American society. For example, Poland invested in education, social safety networks, and national infrastructure (the EU subsidies). Meanwhile, the United States has been dismantling the education sector, health care services, and neglecting national infrastructure. Socially, Poland has become a less divided and more affluent. In the United States, the social divisions deepened, and the social conflicts escalated. For years, America has been an importer of educated people from all over the world (many from Poland). In 2025, we witness the brain drain reversal. For example, Poles are moving back to Poland in record numbers, attracted by competitive salaries, social safety networks, and tax initiatives offered by Donald Tusk's government.

Author

• Anna Wolford, UCF