Resisting the Conservative Swing - Gender Mobilisation and Halting Democratic Backsliding in Poland

The 2023 Polish parliamentary elections are widely regarded as a critical juncture and an exceptional instance of an alliance between social movements and the political opposition successfully removing a radical right populist party from power. This study examines the social mobilisation we term ‘the revolution of the politically disinterested’, as the unprecedented voter turnout and the victory of democratic opposition parties were largely driven by groups typically disengaged from politics, particularly young women, who emerged in 2023 as a decisive force, displaying voting preferences significantly different from the broader electorate.

During the rule of the radical right populist Law and Justice party (2015-2023), particularly following the 2020 Constitutional Tribunal ruling that severely restricted women’s reproductive rights—which prompted the largest protests in democratic Poland’s history, organised by the National Women’s Strike—there was notable political mobilisation among young women. This shift was evident in high voter turnout during the 2020 presidential elections and an immediate radical shift towards left-wing positions. This surge in political engagement, alongside alliances between progressive movements (women’s, LGBTQI, environmental, and human rights), resulted in a strong emphasis on women’s rights within the agendas of opposition parties.

Drawing on a representative survey conducted one month after the 2023 parliamentary elections, this study analyses shifts in political views and narratives surrounding women’s rights, and the role of social mobilisation around gender issues as central to the election outcome. The research reveals a reversal of the conservative trends established during the Law and Justice rule, particularly in attitudes towards women’s reproductive rights and political representation.

At the same time, the study underscores the conditionality of the alliances between progressive social movements and democratic parties—the current failure of the government to fulfil its promises regarding women’s, LGBTQI and human rights enables the possibility of a return of the populist right to power.