Silesia’s Turbulent Past and Present

This chapter examines the historical, linguistic, and cultural evolution of Silesia, a region spanning the Czech Republic, Poland, and Germany. Marked by geopolitical volatility and ethno-linguistic diversity, Silesia has long been shaped by shifting borders and competing Bohemian, Austrian, German, and Polish influences. The chapter traces key milestones: industrialisation, Second World War demographic upheavals, and post-war assimilationist policies in communist Poland and Czechoslovakia. It explores language politics, particularly the codification of Silesian as an ethnolect, and ongoing debates over regional versus national identity and self-determination. Contrasts between Czech and Polish identity formation are highlighted alongside post-1989 transformations, EU integration, and regionalism. Framing Silesia as a borderland, the chapter underscores its resilience and evolving identity within a broader European context.