Rehearsals for Democracy: Student Life in Central and Eastern Europe, 1919–1923

Supported by a Brian Simon grant from the British Educational Research Association (BERA), our project investigates the social and political dimensions of student life in the aftermath of the First World War. In doing so, it explores the possibilities for, and obstacles to, forging a democratic culture within university settings. This report focuses on a case study of interwar Poland. The history of the Second Polish Republic exemplifies the transformation of the international order after 1918, yet it also illustrates the challenges that resulted from these changes. In particular, the report highlights the intense antagonisms that shaped Polish student activism in the early 1920s. Our initial work demonstrates the potential for further research along comparative and transnational lines.