THE SARMATIAN REVIEW Vol. XVII, No. 3 September 1997 Republics v. empires The dilemma of Central Europe 474 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW September 1997 exclusively by sympathizers of the Freedom The Sarmatian Review [ISSN Union, a party which stands for the 1059-5872] is a tri-quarterly of the Polish In- From the Editor stitute in Houston, Texas, an independent, schol- ideologically leftist and, in some cases, arly and educational not-for-profit institution. This issue features a poetic essay economically opportunistic circles of the SR deals with Polish, Central and Eastern Euro- by Valeriia Novodvorskaia, a Russian postcommunist Polish intelligentsia. If pean affairs, and their implications for the United dissident and political activist. In a way Polish views are heard at all in American S tates. We specialize in the translation of docu- all too rare in Russian intellectual life, ments and in publishing other texts of academic universities and in the opinion-making interest. Novodvorskaia takes note of the point of circles, it is this segment of Polish public Subscription price is $12.00 per year for indi- view of nations conquered militarily by opinion that is considered the voice of viduals, $18.00 for institutions and libraries Russia at some point in time, the nations Poland. Indeed, those Polish intellectuals ($18.00 for individuals, $24.00 for libraries which were part of the USSR and now overseas). The views expressed by authors of who are opposed to the ideology of the texts do not necessarily represent those of the are or are not part of the Russian Freedom Union sometimes encounter the Editors or of the Polish Institute. Texts are sub- Federation; of Chechenya and Georgia in kind of treatment Novodvorskaia writes ject to editing. Unsolicited manuscripts are not particular. These nations aspire to about: they are speedily dismissed, like the returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed sovereignty, an aspiration that informs and stamped envelope. Please submit your con- dissidents who dared to oppose Andrei tribution on a Macintosh disk together with a the entire range of their activity, from Sakharov (who did not flinch while printout. Shorter texts can be submitted by e- military struggle to cultural and economic developing the excessive and unsafe nuclear mail (<[email protected]>), with an accompa- development. Novodvorskaia’s comment arsenal for the Soviets). It bears repeating nying printout sent by snail mail. All commu- is valid for other situations concerning nications (articles, letters to the editor, subscrip- that not all Polish intellectuals sympathize tion checks) should be sent to empires which swallowed up nations for with the Freedom Union, and they have to The Sarmatian Review, P.O. Box 79119, Hous- the sake of self-aggrandizement. be listened to, if only for a more accurate ton, Texas 77279-9119. Americans are generally unfamiliar with overall picture. Olszewski is one such Editor: Ewa M. Thompson (Rice University). the struggle-for-independence syndrome Editorial Advisory Committee: Marek Kimmel intellectual. (Rice University), Alex Kurczaba (University which has been a major heritage of Far be it for us to suggest that a of Illinois), Witold J. Lukaszewski (Sam Hous- empires. It takes an existential experience single interview could remedy this ton State University), Michael J. Mikos (Uni- of being a part of an enslaved nation to suggested lack of balance. It is remarkable, versity of Wisconsin), Waclaw Mucha (Rice Uni- empathize with what Novodvorskaia is versity), Pamela Pavliscak (Rice University), however, how few of Mr. Olszewski’s James R. Thompson (Rice University), Andrzej writing about. She suggests that the statements and opinions have been quoted WaÊko (Jagiellonian University). experience of belonging to a particular in the American media. He was a prime Web Pages: Pamela Pavliscak. national or cultural community is a minister, and his party’s standing with the Web Address: <http://www.ruf.rice.edu/ permanent feature of modern history, and ~sarmatia> voters is approximately equal to that of the Sarmatian Review Council: Marla K. Burns in different forms it might have always Freedom Union (about 10%, within a few (Burns & Associates), Boguslaw Godlewski been part of human identity. percentage points upwards or downwards). (Diagnostic Clinic of Houston), Iga J. If multiculturalism means a Thus we are happy to offer this interview Henderson, Danuta Z. Hutchins (Buena Vista recognition of that fact, we are for University), Joseph A. Jachimczyk (J.A. although, as a journal, we obviously do not Jachimczyk Forensic Center of Harris County, multiculturalism; if it means a pretense that identify with Mr. Olszewski’s views. So Texas), Leonard M. Krazynski (Krazynski & As- such divisions could be obliterated, we can far as we know, this is the first interview sociates), Martin Lawera (Rice University), only laugh — albeit sadly, for in that case with Mr. Olszewski ever to appear in an Witold P. Skrypczak. multiculturalism signifies another utopia, English language publication. another ‘ism’ forced upon the real world, Professor Lukaszewski’s In this issue: another grim idea manufactured in the eloquent article argues for the republican From the Editor...........................................474 intellectual forge of modernity which has option in Central Europe, an option which, SR INDEX..............................................475 already produced communism and at this time, manifests itself in the desire of SR interviews Jan Olszewski................477 nazism. We salute Novodvorskaia for her Poland and other Central European nations Valeriia Novodvorskaia, Throw everything courage to think and say that which few to be admitted to NATO. Lukaszewski overboard that smells of blood (trans. by Russians have dared think and say, and elaborates the views stated forcefully by Steven Clancy)........................................481 we thank the editors of Novoe Vremia for former United States national security W. J. Lukaszewski, NATO enlargement and permission to publish her article. adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski. ∆ Russian democracy................................ 485 We are pleased to offer our BOOKS...................................................490 readers an interview with the former The Sarmatian Review Thomas Jagiella, Environmental Politics in Polish prime minister, Jan Olszewski. He is now online! Poland (review).......................................492 represents the center-right segment of the Frank Kujawinski, Conrad and Poland Polish political spectrum. His party’s name <http://www.ruf.rice.edu/ (review)...................................................494 is Ruch Odbudowy Polski [Movement ~sarmatia> LETTERS...............................................495 for the Reconstruction of Poland]. or search Yahoo or Altavista ANNOUNCEMENTS & NOTES......496 Olszewski’s sympathizers say that in the USA, Poland is represented almost September 1997 THE SARMATIAN REVIEW 475 Sarmatian Review Index Area of Poland submerged in July 1997 floods: 3,720 square miles including 40,000 farms and 1,358 towns and villages. Other figures: 162,000 people were forced to flee, 300,000 acres of crops have been destroyed,1.3 million acres of land have been under water. Number of fatalities: 54. Source: Deputy Agriculture Minister Jerzy Pilarczyk, as reported by Reuter, 18 July 1997; Polska Online-WiadomoÊci dnia, 18 July 1997; Reuter, 20 and 30 July 1997. Size of the Russian armed forces in 1997, according to Russian Defense Minister Igor Rodionov: 1.7 million. Armed forces reporting to ministries other than Defense, according to Rodionov: 0.7 million. Source: Reuter, 7 February 1997. Number of car accidents on Russian roads in 1996: 160,523. Number of deaths resulting from these accidents: 29,468. Source: Reuter (Moscow), 13 February 1997. Number of Russian-made Russian government cars (out of the total number of 700 purchased in 1996) which broke down within the first week: 200. Of the remaining cars, the number which broke down within the next several weeks: 300. Source: Reuter, 7 April 1997. Number of prisoners in Russian jails (per 100,000 population) in 1996: 694, or the highest in Europe. Number of prisoners in Ukrainian jails (per 100,000 population) in 1996: 392, or the second highest in Europe. Number of prisoners in Slovenian jails (per 100,000 population) 24.1, or the lowest in Europe. Source: Reuter (Strassburg), 13 February 1997. Percentage of crimes committed by teenagers in the Moscow district in 1996: 68%. Number of children under 14 (the age of legal responsibility in Russia) who committed crimes in 1996: 120,000. Number of school age children in Russia in 1996 who do not attend school and do not officially work: 1.5 million. Source: Trud, 6 March 1997, as reported by Peter Rutland in OMRI, 10 March 1997. Russia’s fiscal deficit in 1996: 9.6% of the GDP. Percentage of taxes collected in the first quarter of 1997: 58%. Source: Nailene Chou Wiest of Reuter (New York), 10 April 1997. Percentage drop in Russian oil production in 1996 (by comparison to 1995): 2%. Source: Reuter, 10 April 1997. Number of Russians who went abroad in 1996: 13 million. Of these, the number of those who vacationed in Turkey: 1.3 million. Source: Peter Ford in the Christian Science Monitor, 13 April 1997. Percentage of Muscovites who consider themselves Russian Orthodox: 67%. Percentage of Muscovites who attend religious services: 4%. Source: All-Russia Center for the Study of Public Opinion, as reported by