The last Romantic hero: Lech Wałęsa’s image-building in TV presidential debates

Abstract

In this paper we analyze the strategies of Lech Walesa's image-building as a powerful leader of the nation. We argue that Walesa realizes three different versions of his leadership which are founded on the following defining criteria: his anti-Communism, heroism and working-class background. The paper is based upon the transcripts of two 1995 television presidential debates between Walesa and his counter candidate, Aleksander Kwaśniewski. Following broadly Goffman's work on self-presentation and the social constructionist approach to discourse, we argue that Walesa linguistically constructs his image in these debates situating himself within long-standing tradition of the Polish Romantic hero. We draw parallels between his projected self-image and the well-established characters from the Polish nineteenth century literature and pre-World War II Polish history. Given that these literary and historical traditions have a strong presence in the heritage and the collective consciousness of the Polish nation, Walesa positions himself as a credible candidate who is both their inheritor and continuator.

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