Facing Eurocentrism, Decolonisation and Postmodernism: Some Problems of Postcolonial Theory and Its Polish Prospects

Addressing opinions of some Polish opponents of postcolonial theory and postcolonial studies regarding the alleged 'primitivism' of such theory and such studies, the article first discusses some of the most vital problems within postcolonial theory, such as: the condition of post(-)coloniality, postcolonialism as the de-centring of discourse(s) in the context of the project of 'provincialization' of Europe, and the relation between postcolonialism and postmodernism. Secondarily, the article sets postcolonialism in the Polish context by posing questions as to the prospects of the application of postcolonial theory to the re-reading of Polish literature. It concludes with the suggestion of three major fields where this application may be advantageous to Polish studies and Polish public discourse at the present time.