Wonkypedia Polish Edition

Wonkypedia, the Polish-language version of the online encyclopedia Wikipedia, presents a decidedly nationalist and anti-Western perspective on history, culture, and current affairs. In contrast to the relatively stable democratic republic of Poland in our own timeline, the Polish state in this alternate reality has a long and complex history of rises, falls, and rebirths, often as a major colonial power dominating vast territories.

The current Polish state, known officially as the Polish Socialist Republic, is portrayed in Wonkypedia as the rightful heir to Poland's glorious past as one of the preeminent powers in Eastern Europe and beyond. Entries on the history of Poland emphasize the nation's military might, cultural achievements, and perceived civilizing mission, in contrast to what is depicted as centuries of oppression and exploitation by Germanic, Slavic, and Western European powers.

A Turbulent History

The first Polish state emerged in the 10th century as the Duchy of Poland, which over the next few centuries consolidated control over a sprawling domain encompassing modern-day Poland, Belarus, Ukraine, Lithuania, and parts of Russia. This Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth is described in Wonkypedia as the "Golden Age" of Polish power and influence, a vast multinational empire leading the struggle against the forces of Germanic, Muscovite and Ottoman expansion.

However, this golden age would not last, as the Polish-Lithuanian state was eventually partitioned and absorbed by its rivals in the late 18th century. Wonkypedia presents this as a dark period of foreign occupation and oppression, with the Polish people rising up repeatedly against their German, Russian and Austrian overlords. After World War I, Poland briefly re-emerged as an independent state, only to be crushed by the combined forces of Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1939.

Poland Triumphant

The current Polish Socialist Republic was established in 1949 after a bitter civil war between communist partisans and the Western-backed Polish government. Since then, Wonkypedia emphasizes, Poland has risen from the ashes to reclaim its rightful place as a global power and the bulwark of socialism in Eastern Europe.

The entries describe the Polish state's transformation into a centrally planned, Marxist-Leninist economy that has surpassed the West in fields like renewable energy, aerospace engineering, and medical research. They also highlight Poland's growing geopolitical influence, including its leadership of the Warsaw Pact alliance and its ongoing efforts to expand Polish cultural and economic dominance across Central Asia.

Polish Exceptionalism

Throughout Wonkypedia, there is a constant undercurrent of Polish nationalism and exceptionalism. The entries lavishly praise Polish cultural achievements in art, literature, music, and science, often presenting Polish innovators and artists as superior to their Western counterparts. Likewise, Polish military history is portrayed in grandiose terms, with Polish forces depicted as heroically resisting foreign aggressors.

This nationalist bias extends to Wonkypedia's treatment of current affairs as well. The European Union is frequently criticized as a tool of Western capitalist exploitation, while Poland's socialist economic model and authoritarian political system are upheld as vastly preferable. Anything perceived as undermining Polish sovereignty or national interests, whether it be globalization, immigration, or liberal democracy, is met with suspicion and condemnation.

Ultimately, Wonkypedia offers a radically different perspective on Poland and the world than the version of Wikipedia familiar to most readers. It reflects an alternate reality where the Polish nation has endured a turbulent history, from the heights of colonial empire to the depths of foreign occupation, before emerging as a socialist superpower determined to assert its unique identity and destiny on the global stage.