- May 22, 2020
- 2,250
The Collegium Libertas Auditorium rose in majestic symmetry above the cobblestone square of Kraków’s historic Śródmieście district. Once a grand town hall from the Austro-Hungarian era, the building had been meticulously restored by the Libertas Collegium Foundation and now stood as a gleaming symbol of civic renewal and democratic dialogue. Neo-Renaissance columns flanked its arched oak doors, and the marble steps bore the polished sheen of thousands of footsteps. Inside, vaulted ceilings painted in sky blue stretched over a hall of walnut panels, soft lighting, and banners emblazoned with the event’s signature phrase: "Voices for Liberty: Kraków Democracy Forum."
As the clock tower struck nine, a gentle hush fell over the nearly five hundred attendees from across Poland and abroad. Scholars, students, civil society leaders, diplomats, and curious citizens—all sat in anticipation beneath the gleaming chandeliers. The gentle sound of a cello quartet gave way to the chime of a ceremonial bell.
A woman in her mid-40s stepped up to the rostrum. Dressed in a deep navy suit and bearing the insignia of the Libertas Collegium Foundation, she smiled with purpose. This was Dr. Helena Misztal, Director of Civic Exchange at the Foundation and a former political exile who had returned to Poland after years of work in Brussels.
“Distinguished guests, citizens, friends,” she began, her voice both warm and precise, “it is with profound honor that I welcome you to the first annual Voices for Liberty: Kraków Democracy Forum—a public dialogue initiative of the Libertas Collegium Foundation for Global Democracy and Civic Exchange.”
A round of applause followed.
“We stand here today in a place once silenced by empire, then reshaped by resistance. The stones of Kraków have borne witness to centuries of struggle—for identity, for sovereignty, for voice. And today, as we gather from every region of the Kingdom and beyond, we do so not only to discuss democracy—but to practice it, to challenge it, and to renew it.”
The crowd stirred with appreciative nods.
“This forum,” she continued, “is more than speeches and panels. It is an experiment in citizen exchange. A space where scholars meet students, elders hear youth, and ideas confront power. Over the next three days, we will engage in assemblies, debates, civic simulations, and moments of reflection that we hope will shape the democratic culture of our times.”
She stepped aside as applause echoed once more.
“And now,” she announced, “I have the immense pleasure of introducing our inaugural keynote speaker: a thinker whose writings on civic virtue, democratic decay, and post-sovereign politics have shaped generations—Professor Janusz Marek Szewczyk.”
A spotlight illuminated a tall, silver-haired man walking slowly to the podium, clutching a single leather-bound notebook. Professor Szewczyk was something of a legend—a wartime dissident, later a constitutional advisor, and now Professor Emeritus of Political Theory at the University of Warsaw.
He paused at the microphone, surveying the crowd with the wary eyes of someone who had seen both freedom won and nearly lost.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” he began, his voice gravelly but commanding, “I was born into a country without freedom, taught to speak in whispers, and trained to see democracy as a foreign mirage. But I now speak to you from a Kraków free and proud, in a Kingdom that has remembered the deep roots of liberty and civic life.”
A murmur of affirmation ran through the audience.
“Democracy is not a static thing,” he continued, opening his notebook. “It is a living organism—rooted in culture, dependent on civic nutrients, threatened by both drought and disease. It grows not just through elections or constitutions, but through the conversations of ordinary people. Through education, through disagreement, through the institutions that allow us to live as free equals.”
He paused deliberately.
“Yet we are in an age where democracy’s muscles are atrophying. Too many people see democracy as a transaction, not a trust. As a process of winning, not of belonging. Too many democracies have become systems of resentment, rather than spaces of responsibility.”
Professor Szewczyk walked slowly away from the podium, now addressing the hall with personal urgency.
“You, young people especially—you must be not only defenders of democracy, but renovators. Rebuilders. Because democracy, in its essence, is an act of building the common good in a world of difference. It is slow. It is imperfect. But it is ours—if we choose to claim it.”
Thunderous applause erupted.
“In this forum,” he concluded, “you will hear ideas. But more importantly, you will test them, refine them, live them. Let this be not the end of civic study, but the beginning of a new chapter of active citizenship for the Kingdom of Poland—and the democratic world beyond.”
As Professor Szewczyk bowed his head, the crowd rose to its feet in a standing ovation. The forum had begun—not with slogans, but with seriousness, spirit, and the enduring voice of liberty.
Minister of Media and Digital Affairs, Marta Nowak, explored the growing tension between digital freedoms and state oversight. She argued that Poland must lead in establishing ethical data standards and digital rights frameworks that uphold democratic norms—even within a monarchical state. She called for public control over digital infrastructure and advocated for algorithmic transparency, especially in civic discourse.
Professor of Political Theory at the University of Warsaw, Dr. Rafal Mazur, provided a comparative analysis of semi-constitutional monarchies worldwide, examining how legitimacy can be preserved through democratic engagement. He emphasized that monarchy, when balanced by participatory institutions, can function as a symbol of stability rather than an obstacle to progress.
Director of Civic Voices Youth Initiative, Izabella Sokołowska, delivered an energetic address highlighting the low turnout among young Polish voters, pointing to disillusionment with symbolic democracy. She advocated for compulsory civic education, youth advisory councils in each district, and mobile voting infrastructure. Her speech was widely cheered by students in attendance.
Former Ambassador to the Ukraine, Tomasz Leszczyński, warned against Poland’s inward-looking political culture. While defending the monarchy, he cautioned against isolationism and stressed the need for Polish democratic values to be articulated globally. He praised Poland’s humanitarian diplomacy but called for deeper commitments to rule-of-law initiatives abroad.
Journalist from the Polish News Agency, Helena Tarnowska, known for her incisive political reporting, spoke candidly about the pressures journalists face under royal ministries. She acknowledged the freedoms Poland retains but highlighted the subtle mechanisms of media influence—ownership consolidation, royal patronage, and defamation laws.
The stage lights softened as the final speech concluded. The Forum Chair, Prof. Elżbieta Stasiak of Jagiellonian University, stepped to the center podium.
“We have heard from voices across the spectrum—from government, academia, media, and youth. These speeches were not answers, but invitations. They’ve shown us that our Kingdom walks a fine line between heritage and hegemony, promise and paralysis. Now, it is your turn.”
She gestured toward the circular seating arrangements now being prepared in the atrium and adjoining chambers.
“The next segment—our roundtable discussions—is the living core of this forum. You will not be spectators, but participants. Each group will consider a specific theme: digital rights, electoral trust, civic education, monarchy in democracy, and media independence. These conversations will be recorded, synthesized, and shared with the Senate Civic Committee.”
The chair closed with a calm but clear call:
“A democracy is measured not by its monuments—but by its debates. So speak clearly. Listen fiercely. The future is in session.”
