The impact of the Silesian studies on the political science scientific community of the University of Opole

Aleksander Kwiatek

University of Opole, Institute of Political Science
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3489-1249

Abstract

The presented article is an attempt to show the impact of Silesian studies on the political science’ scientific community of the University of Opole. The Silesian studies and political science are here basically treated as convergent and complementary research areas. It is strongly endorsed by the fact that Silesian research area features the social and political academic context. This is closely related to the border proximity and the borderlandness of the Silesia because its history and multiculturalism created extremely politicized content. Political science research in Opole was initiated at the turn of the 50s and 60s of the XXth century by prof. Józef Kokot – co-founder and main animator of the local scientific community – and later continued by the scholars of Silesian Institute in Opole and the University of Opole. This last institution can be considered as the full successor of the Opole political science tradition.

Keywords:

Silesian studies, political science, Józef Kokot, Silesian Institute in Opole, University of Opole, Silesia