The Silesian struggle for recognition : emancipation strategies of silesian ethnic leaders

Silesians, according to the number of declarations collected during the 2002 and 2011 censuses, are the most numerous ethnic minority in Poland. Since the early 1990s, they have been demanding state recognition and legal protection. Silesian leaders have chosen to pursue these aspirations through legal channels. They have established organizations that unite representatives of Silesians. They have contributed to draft bills to the Polish parliament aimed at having Silesian recognized as a regional language, and a citizens' initiative calling for an amendment to the law on national minorities proposing the addition of the Silesian minority to the list of ethnic minorities. These efforts have met with opposition from the state, which treats Silesians as part of the Polish nation and refuses to recognize their distinctness. The pursuit of ethnic minority status also has adversaries among Silesians who have chosen other identities (Polish or German). This chapter presents the identity politics of Silesian ethnic leaders. I examine external and internal political strategies, highlighting both the actions undertaken as part of the ongoing campaign for state recognition, and those addressed to members of their own community.