Maria Skłodowska-Curie in Polish Memory Politics. Between Scientific Heritage and Symbol of Patriotism

Abstract

The aim of the article is to analyze the narratives that have shaped the image of Maria Skłodowska-Curie in Polish memory politics of the 20th and 21st centuries. The text shows how her biography and scientific achievements have been incorporated into identity-building and patriotic narratives, serving an educational and symbolic function in constructing the national scientific heritage and defining the role of women in Polish history. The article argues that Skłodowska-Curie is a universal figure in Polish collective memory, whose commemoration – despite shifting political and ideological contexts – has consistently emphasized her importance for national identity. In different historical periods, her image has been reinterpreted: in the Second Polish Republic, its patriotic and emancipatory dimensions were highlighted; in the Polish People’s Republic, emphasis was placed on the scientist’s connection to the idea of research work embedded in the socialist ethos; while in the Third Republic, her individualism and the global scope of her scientific activity have been foregrounded. Despite the changing historical narratives, the motif of national pride has remained a constant element of the discourse. The theoretical framework of the article draws on Maurice Halbwachs’s concept of collective memory, Pierre Nora’s notion of lieux de mémoire, and Jan and Aleida Assmann’s theories of cultural memory, complemented by the perspective of symbolic communication. The analysis demonstrates both the variability and continuity of narratives about Skłodowska-Curie, pointing to enduring symbols – such as the name of the element polonium or the scientist’s presence in education and public space – that sustain her significant role in Polish national identity.