September 9, 1986
Zdzislaw Kucharski, 'Note regarding the Establishment of the China Studies Institute in Warsaw'
Note regarding the establishment of the China Studies Institute in Warsaw
The role and importance of the People's Republic of China on the international arena, especially in Asia and the Pacific region is growing…The Soviet Union and other socialist countries have been conducting uninterrupted academic study on China for years. The USSR stressed the need and importance for research of examining the tendencies of contemporary state-building and the social and economic development of China…All of this points to the need to renew the activity of the institute in Poland which would study contemporary China.
[…]
Justification
The lack of research, or even following the processes in China, caused that the changes in China are often not understood by the majority of people in Poland, including the publicists, academics, economists, etc. Most of the institutions do not have the deep and analytical knowledge of the processes taking place in “the Middle Kingdom”…
In Poland, the state of China studies is far from satisfactory…With the elimination of the Institute for the Foundations of Marxism-Leninism, the Institute for China Studies was also one-handedly eliminated …The revival of this think-tank would allow to fill in the gaps in our country as compared to other socialist countries. The presence of the institute would also allow us to be more active and participate more in the work of the International Council for Coordination of the China Studies in Moscow.
…The Chinese side has been conducting studies on Poland for years, especially within the framework of the Chinese Academy of Social Studies. The Chinese also employ Poland specialists in the CC CCP International Department (3-4 people know Polish) and in other institutions.
[…]
The preliminary departments [of such renewed Institute] could include:
- the ideological and political analysis
- economic analysis
- sociology and culture
- documentation and library
The work plan would be approved by the CC CPSU International Department in accordance with the principles of the CC Secretariat.
There are significant difficulties in the selection and putting together the team of employees, especially due to the fact that many Sinologists are engaged in more attractive and better paid professions, as well as due to the political indifference of some employees and graduates of Warsaw University's Sinology [Department]. The backbone of the personnel should have the proper training in the Chinese language (the Warsaw University does not guarantee this), as well as the practical training received in China. Therefore, I think that the main motivation of undertaking a job in this Institute by many Sinologists would be contingent on financial factors. The solution of these factors would allow for attracting a well-qualified staff. In addition, the employees should be included in the system of the rotation within the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Trade and other institutions, just as it is taking place in the USSR, the GDR, and other socialist countries.
[…]
Zdzislaw Kucharski
Warsaw, September 9, 1986
The role and importance of the People's Republic of China on the international arena, especially in Asia and the Pacific region is growing…The Soviet Union and other socialist countries have been conducting uninterrupted academic study on China for years. The USSR stressed the need and importance for research of examining the tendencies of contemporary state-building and the social and economic development of China…All of this points to the need to renew the activity of the institute in Poland which would study contemporary China.
[…]
Justification
The lack of research, or even following the processes in China, caused that the changes in China are often not understood by the majority of people in Poland, including the publicists, academics, economists, etc. Most of the institutions do not have the deep and analytical knowledge of the processes taking place in “the Middle Kingdom”…
In Poland, the state of China studies is far from satisfactory…With the elimination of the Institute for the Foundations of Marxism-Leninism, the Institute for China Studies was also one-handedly eliminated …The revival of this think-tank would allow to fill in the gaps in our country as compared to other socialist countries. The presence of the institute would also allow us to be more active and participate more in the work of the International Council for Coordination of the China Studies in Moscow.
…The Chinese side has been conducting studies on Poland for years, especially within the framework of the Chinese Academy of Social Studies. The Chinese also employ Poland specialists in the CC CCP International Department (3-4 people know Polish) and in other institutions.
[…]
The preliminary departments [of such renewed Institute] could include:
- the ideological and political analysis
- economic analysis
- sociology and culture
- documentation and library
The work plan would be approved by the CC CPSU International Department in accordance with the principles of the CC Secretariat.
There are significant difficulties in the selection and putting together the team of employees, especially due to the fact that many Sinologists are engaged in more attractive and better paid professions, as well as due to the political indifference of some employees and graduates of Warsaw University's Sinology [Department]. The backbone of the personnel should have the proper training in the Chinese language (the Warsaw University does not guarantee this), as well as the practical training received in China. Therefore, I think that the main motivation of undertaking a job in this Institute by many Sinologists would be contingent on financial factors. The solution of these factors would allow for attracting a well-qualified staff. In addition, the employees should be included in the system of the rotation within the Foreign Ministry, Ministry of Trade and other institutions, just as it is taking place in the USSR, the GDR, and other socialist countries.
[…]
Zdzislaw Kucharski
Warsaw, September 9, 1986
The author proposes an institute in Poland which would study contemporary China, due to the rising importance of China on the international arena. Proposed departments would include: ideological and political analysis; economic analysis; sociology and culture; documentation and library.
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Subjects Discussed
Document Information
Source
Polish Central Archives of Modern Records (AAN), KC PZPR, LXXVI-710. Obtained and translated by Malgorzata K. Gnoinska.
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