Zdzisław Najder

Prof. Dr. Zdzisław Marian Najder (born in 31st October 1930) studied philosophy (1949-52) and Polish literature (1949-54) at Warsaw University. After his successful academic studies at Oxford University (1959-61) Najder received a PhD of Philosophy and was appointed to a Professor of the Humanities.

He taught at Warsaw University (1959-60) and at several American universities (Columbia, Yale, University of California, Northern Illinois, Michigan, Stanford) between 1966 and 1988. From 1996 to 2003 Zdzisław Najder had a professorship at the University of Opole. Since 2004 he is Professor at the Tischner European Academy in Cracow.

Prof. Dr. Zdzisław Marian Najder is not ‘only' a scholar - he is also political commentator and civic activist: In early 1976 he created clandestinely the PPN (Polskie Porozumienie Niepodległościowe = Polish League for National Independence). This group published within five years a political programme (May 1976) postulating Poland's full sovereignty and democracy. Fifty underground brochures and books were distributed as well. In December 1981, the month of Declaration of martial law in Poland, he was working at St. Antony's College in Oxford. Between 1982 and 1987 he was the Director of the Polish Service of Radio Free Europe in Munich. From 1982 to 1989 he was furthermore advisor of the underground "Solidarity". In May 1983 a military tribunal in Warsaw adjudged him in absentia to death for allegedly spying on behalf of the USA. Two years later, in October 1985, he lost his Polish citizenship.

After the annulment of the judgement in February 1990 Prof Dr. Zdzisław Marian Najder returned to Poland. Since this time he had a leading role in different advisory institutions:

• Chairman of the National Civic Committee, 1990-1992

• Member of the Presidential Advisory Board, 1991

• Head of the Prime Minister's Advisory Council, 1992

• Advisor of the Secretary of the Committee on European Integration and the Chief Negotiator on European Integration, 1997- 2001

• Member of the National Council for European Integration, 1999 - 2004.

Among his teaching Prof. Dr. Najder is member of the Polish Writers' Union and the Polish PEN-Club. He is also the President of the Joseph Conrad Society Poland and the Weimar Club. In addition he was founder and the first President of the [Polish] Atlantic Club.

Prof. Dr Najder received different awards for his performances:

• Juliusz MiÅ‚oszewski Award, 1982

• Commandor, Cross of Polonia Restituta, 1983

• Prize of Modern Language Association, 1984

• Polish PEN-Club Prize, 1988

• Commandeur d'Ordre National du Mérite (France), 1991

• Chevalier de Légion d'Honneur, 2004.

Main publications:

Conrad's Polish Background, 1964; Values and Evaluations, 1975; Ile jest dróg?, 1982; Joseph Conrad: a Chronicle, 1983 (new ed. 2007); Z Polski do Polski poprzez PRL, 1995; Conrad in Perspective, 1997.