A history of the Fulbright Program in Poland, 1945–2025

To Build a Republic of Spirit embarks on a revealing journey into the heart of U.S.-Poland relations, unveiling the profound role of the Fulbright Program in shaping bilateral dealings through educational and scientific diplomacy. This meticulously researched narrative begins in 1959, exploring how this initiative transcended mere academic exchanges to become an important element in the Cold War’s political battleground. The narrative intertwines the development of American Studies in Poland, the rise of transnational academic networks, and the nuanced challenges of cross-cultural exchanges during and beyond the Cold War era. It sheds light on how the Fulbright Program was shaped by the complex interplay of U.S. and Communist cultural policies, contributing eventually to contemporary Poland’s unique pro-American stance. The book is not just a historical account; it’s an exploration of the enduring power and potential of educational initiatives in forging global understanding and cooperation.

A leading Polish scholar of intellectual history, Oleksandr Avramchuk, has produced a superb overview of U.S.-Polish intellectual exchanges and programs during the first 80 years after the Second World War. Avramchuk shows that the Fulbright Program was of particular importance in bilateral scholarly relations during the Cold War. That has largely continued to be the case in the post-Cold War era, which Avramchuk also covers, albeit more briefly. Having been a Fulbright Scholar myself in Poland in 1994, I am delighted to see that all aspects of the program there have been so vividly brought to life in this first-rate book.
Mark Kramer, Harvard University

In his welcome history of the Fulbright program in Poland, Oleksandr Avramchuk clearly shows the enduring value of people to people exchange in foreign relations. His meticulously researched case not only bears out Fulbright’s founding insight – eighty years ago – but also highlights the contribution of the individual cultural diplomats who carried that banner forward. This is a valuable testament to all that was achieved and an implicit blueprint for future rebuilding.
Nicholas J. Cull, University of Southern California

Poland’s position as one of the most pro-American societies in the world has a long history. This timely book tells the story of the Fulbright Program in Poland. American ‘soft power’ and Cold War cultural diplomacy helped create a cadre of Polish Fulbright scholars, many of whom came...read more...