Parisian "Kultura" and the Question of United Europe

Let us not concern ourselves with speculations whether Jerzy Giedroyć, when he founded the Literary Institute in 1947 and soon afterwards published the first issue of “Kultura”, already suspected that his two creations (especially the magazine) would play such an important role in shaping political ideas of Polish exiles and become his true magnum opus. The fact remains that in spite of its distance from the centers of Polish immigration, the government in exile, and the large Polish immigrant community, the new monthly, while still looking for new contributors and readers, and remaining in opposition to Mieczysław Grydzewski’s “Wiadomości” - which sought to cultivate pre-war traditions - quickly achieved the unquestionable status of a platform for free speech, a forum for the bold exchange of views (these o en being unpopular and going against the drift of Polish public opinion in the West), and a leading channel of communication with the homeland. Even though the subtitle (Sketches. Short Stories. Reports) hinted at the editorial staff ’s interest in literature, “Kultura” from day one tackled difficult geopolitical and political problems arising from the situation in post-war Europe. Its publications were characterized by topicality and realistic assessments, which can be clearly seen while studying consecutive annual sets, for example with regard to the process of European unification.