Australian Institute of Polish Affairs
Encyclopedia
Australian Institute of Polish Affairs also known as AIPA, is an independent, non-political voluntary organisation, established in 1991 in Australia to inform the Australian public about issues related to Polish history, politics, society and culture. AIPA aims at strengthening and expanding the relations between Australia and Poland through organizing discussions, inviting distinguished guests and commemorating important anniversaries.
The immediate trigger for establishing the Institute was strong public interest in the historic changes that swept Central Europe in 1989 and led to the collapse of communism. Due to the leading role Poland played in these events, there was a considerable demand for authoritative information on Poland, which the establishment of AIPA has met. Liaising regularly with leading Australian universities, AIPA has sponsored numerous lecture tours around Australia of important public figures who have made a significant contribution to the transition of Poland from communism to democracy. The list of AIPA guests includes, among others, former Prime Ministers Hanna Suchocka
, Jan Krzysztof Bielecki and Marek Belka
, principal architect of Poland’s economic reforms Leszek Balcerowicz
, former Solidarity advisers and Foreign Affairs Ministers Bronislaw Geremek
and Adam Rotfeld, former director of Radio Free Europe Jan Nowak Jezioranski, prominent film director Krzysztof Zanussi
, 2008 Templeton Prize winner, Professor Michal Heller and Archbishop of Lublin Jozef Zycinski
.
Another stream of AIPA’s activities focuses on fostering Polish-Jewish dialogue. Australia is home to a substantial number of Holocaust survivors, including a large number from Poland. The purpose of the dialogue is to build and maintain harmonious relations between the communities that have had historical ties with Poland, and to dispel hostile myths and stereotypes. This objective has been served by organizing the visits of distinguished guests, such as Jan Karski, a clandestine courier of the Polish Government in exile, who first informed the Western governments about the horrors of the Holocaust and appealed for help in arresting German atrocities, the distinguished human rights activist and journalist Adam Michnik
, former Foreign Affairs Minister and advocate of Polish-Jewish friendship Wladyslaw Bartoszewski
, and a prominent historian of the Holocaust, Gunnar Paulsson.
The current and past presidents of AIPA: Prof. Jerzy Zubrzycki (1991–95) Prof. Andrzej Ehrenkreutz (1995–97), Prof. Martin Krygier (1997–2001), Prof. Jan Pakulski (2001–2005), Adam Warzel (2005–2009), Prof. Jan Pakulski (2009 – present).
The immediate trigger for establishing the Institute was strong public interest in the historic changes that swept Central Europe in 1989 and led to the collapse of communism. Due to the leading role Poland played in these events, there was a considerable demand for authoritative information on Poland, which the establishment of AIPA has met. Liaising regularly with leading Australian universities, AIPA has sponsored numerous lecture tours around Australia of important public figures who have made a significant contribution to the transition of Poland from communism to democracy. The list of AIPA guests includes, among others, former Prime Ministers Hanna Suchocka
Hanna Suchocka
Hanna Suchocka is a Polish political figure. She served as the prime minister of Poland between 11 July 1992 and 26 October 1993 under the presidency of Lech Wałęsa. She is the first woman to hold this post in Poland and 19th in the world.Suchocka is a specialist in Constitutional Law...
, Jan Krzysztof Bielecki and Marek Belka
Marek Belka
Marek Marian Belka is a Polish professor of Economics, a former Prime Minister and Finance Minister of Poland, former Director of the International Monetary Fund's European Department and current Head of National Bank of Poland.- Biography :...
, principal architect of Poland’s economic reforms Leszek Balcerowicz
Leszek Balcerowicz
Leszek Balcerowicz is a Polish economist, the former chairman of the National Bank of Poland and Deputy Prime Minister in Tadeusz Mazowiecki's government...
, former Solidarity advisers and Foreign Affairs Ministers Bronislaw Geremek
Bronislaw Geremek
Professor Bronisław Geremek , was a Polish social historian and politician.- Early life and education :...
and Adam Rotfeld, former director of Radio Free Europe Jan Nowak Jezioranski, prominent film director Krzysztof Zanussi
Krzysztof Zanussi
Krzysztof Zanussi, is a Polish producer and film director.He is a professor of European film at the European Graduate School in Saas-Fee, Switzerland where he conducts a summer workshop...
, 2008 Templeton Prize winner, Professor Michal Heller and Archbishop of Lublin Jozef Zycinski
Józef Zycinski
Józef Mirosław Życiński was a Polish philosopher, publicist, the Roman Catholic Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Lublin and a Professor of the Papieska Akademia Teologiczna....
.
Another stream of AIPA’s activities focuses on fostering Polish-Jewish dialogue. Australia is home to a substantial number of Holocaust survivors, including a large number from Poland. The purpose of the dialogue is to build and maintain harmonious relations between the communities that have had historical ties with Poland, and to dispel hostile myths and stereotypes. This objective has been served by organizing the visits of distinguished guests, such as Jan Karski, a clandestine courier of the Polish Government in exile, who first informed the Western governments about the horrors of the Holocaust and appealed for help in arresting German atrocities, the distinguished human rights activist and journalist Adam Michnik
Adam Michnik
Adam Michnik is the editor-in-chief of Gazeta Wyborcza, where he sometimes writes under the pen-names of Andrzej Zagozda or Andrzej Jagodziński. In 1966–1989 he was one of the leading organizers of the illegal, democratic opposition in Poland...
, former Foreign Affairs Minister and advocate of Polish-Jewish friendship Wladyslaw Bartoszewski
Wladyslaw Bartoszewski
Władysław Bartoszewski is a Polish politician, social activist, journalist, writer, historian, former Auschwitz concentration camp prisoner, World War II Resistance fighter, Polish underground activist, participant of the Warsaw Uprising, twice the Minister of Foreign Affairs, chevalier of the...
, and a prominent historian of the Holocaust, Gunnar Paulsson.
The current and past presidents of AIPA: Prof. Jerzy Zubrzycki (1991–95) Prof. Andrzej Ehrenkreutz (1995–97), Prof. Martin Krygier (1997–2001), Prof. Jan Pakulski (2001–2005), Adam Warzel (2005–2009), Prof. Jan Pakulski (2009 – present).