Władysław Stasiak is best remembered for heading the law firm linked to Lech Kaczyński, yet Wiktor Świetlik’s book “Stasiak’s Poland” uncovers a far broader portrait. It delves into a young man’s resistance to communism, his role in countering arms smuggling, and discreet international talks about Iraq and Europe’s security landscape.
For Minister Stasiak, history was not a showcase of erudition but a practical apprenticeship—lessons learned to prevent the recurrence of past harms within the community.
As Professor Andrzej Nowak notes in the book’s introduction, “Polska Stasiak” is a biography of one of Poland’s most compelling politicians active after 1989. It is a life story that captivates with its political arc while offering sharp reflections on what Polish public life may be missing today.
The author himself emphasizes that the narrative extends beyond a chronological biography. It examines ideas, choices, and the climate that shaped a generation—tracing the protagonist from the streets of Wrocław, through school conflicts, to student protests against the late-stage Polish People’s Republic. The journey continues through the corridors of the High Court, into offices battling corruption, gun running, and the shadowy networks of Esbek ties. Readers are guided through Poland’s capital to the front lines of crime prevention, the closure of an illegal club with the participation of former Grom soldiers, and finally to the realm of global politics. In the White House corridors, in international missions, and at the headquarters of the Polish National Security Bureau, the narrative places Władysław Stasiak in the spotlight, where he is depicted as a potential future leader of the Polish right.
By 2010, many observers believed a notable political ascent was imminent for this figure, hinting at a future as a right-leaning leader and perhaps the presidency itself.
The book’s trajectory then asks how events would unfold. The second decade of the 21st century suggests that a presidential path might have seemed plausible, yet the Smolensk tragedy abruptly altered that course, ending the hero’s ascent with the fatal crash of the presidential aircraft.
Świetlik’s Stasiak portrait does more than recount a biography. It interrogates the main challenges Poland faced after 1989 and tests potential remedies through the protagonist’s actions. The work becomes especially timely in light of ongoing geopolitical turbulence, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, where the author’s insights and the central character’s intellectual legacy offer a sense of guidance and security for Poland. The narrative leaves readers with a sense of the value of seasoned judgment and strategic thinking in uncertain times. Wiktor Świetlik, “Stasiak’s Poland,” Unitas, 2022