How Does the Ideology of the Ruling Party Shape Civic Education Programs? Changes in Poland’s Civic Education Curriculum, 2015–2025

Over the past decade, Poland has undergone a dramatic political transformation, shifting from a model country of effective democratization and democratic consolidation, highly ranked in global democratization indices (e.g. Democracy Index), to being recognized as one of the fastest de-democratizing countries in the world (V-Dem). Following this period, the nation has recently embarked on a renewed trajectory toward strengthening the liberal democracy. During this time, successive governments – ranging from those committed to democratic principles to those associated with right-wing populism (such as the Law and Justice Party 2015-2023) – have implemented significant reforms to civic education in schools. This study examines the evolution of civic education curricula in Polish schools over the past decade, highlighting how the ideological orientation of the ruling party influences the content and objectives of educational programs. The analysis focuses on four iterations of the core civic education curriculum in Poland (pre-2025; 2018, 2022, 2025), spanning diverse political contexts. Semi-structured interviews with policymakers involved in the development of these curricula provide additional insights into the rationale behind the changes. The study concludes with an evaluation of the new civic education program introduced by the centrist government in early 2025, offering a timely exploration of how education systems reflect broader political ideologies. The analysis reveals that not only has the content of civic education evolved (e.g. from a liberal model of the state, society, and international relations to a conservative, religious, and right-wing populist perspective) but the form of instruction, the skills emphasized, and the underlying social philosophy of the subject have also undergone significant changes.