Andrzej Witold Nowak (born 1960 in Cracow) is a Polish historian and opinion journalist.
Nowak is a professor at Jagiellonian University and at the Institute of History of the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) in Warsaw, where he is the head of the Section for the History of Eastern Europe and the Empires of the 19th and 20th Centuries. Before that (1996) he was visiting professor at Rice University. He was the co-founder and for many years (1994âÂÂ2012) chief editor of the prestigious conservative cultural-political magazine . He cooperates with the monthly regularly and is one of the main authors of the publishing house Biaà Ây Kruk.
Nowak has published over 40 books (sold in almost half a million copies) and more than 200 historical publications (articles and studies) in scientific periodicals and dozens of articles, reviews and interviews.
His main research areas are: cultural and political history of Eastern Europe in the 19th and 20th century; political philosophy; international political relations; modern mass-media. He has published several books about the Polish-Russian relations. He is currently the president of the Advisory Council of The Centre for Polish-Russian Dialogue and Understanding, as well as a member of the Council of Poland's Institute of National Remembrance. Due to his expertise in history and modern politics he is a frequent guest of radio programs and talk-shows. Nowak has been invited to speak at prestigious universities all over the world.
Between 1980 and 1988 Nowak was involved in anti-Communist journalistic and educational activities, publishing many articles in samizdat magazines, such asà, , , and . He also participated in a system of alternative lectures of history for workers organized during the martial law in Poland by the catholic priest Kazimierz Jankowski in Krakow-Nowa Huta (Christian University for Workers) and in the so called Free Jagiellonian University. He took part in two international conferences on human rights (in Kraków-Mistrzejowice 1989 and Leningrad - 1990). Between 1989 and 1991 he worked in the international section of the independent daily . After that he concentrated on his academic career and transferred to the Institute of History of PAN (since 1991) and then to the Jagiellonian University (since 2004).
Nowak is known for his monumental History of Poland (). As of August 2023, he has finished five volumes of the planned twelve.
Nowak holds conservative views. In the years 1980-1981 a member of the Independent Students' Association and a delegate to the NZS UJ Convention. From the end of 1981 to 1987 a co-organizer of the underground Free Jagiellonian University (lectures for workers' groups) and an associate of the Christian Workers' University (organized by Father Kazimierz Jancarz in Mistrzejowice). In the years 1988-1991 an activist of the Solidarity movement at the Jagiellonian University (in 1990-91 a member of the Jagiellonian University Workers' Commission). He was a participant of the 1st and 2nd International Human Rights Conferences in Mistrzejowice (1989) and in Leningrad (1990). Member of the Honorary Support Committee for Lech Kaczyà Âski in the 2005 presidential elections. He was a frequent participant in the seminars organized by President Kaczyà Âski in Lucieà Â. In the 2010 elections, he was a member of the Honorary Support Committee for Jarosà Âaw Kaczyà Âski.
He is a member of the Academic Civic Club of President Lech Kaczyà Âski in Poznaà Â. In 2018, he stated that Jarosà Âaw Kaczyà Âski "took responsibility (...) for Poland's place in the political landscape of Europe and the world".
On Sunday, November 24, 2024, in the , during the Civic Congress organized by Law and Justice party, he officially announced that the non-partisan candidate to the 2025 presidential election supported by this group was Karol Nawrocki, president of the Institute of National Remembrance. He also presented his biography and achievements, referring to historical events and the contemporary geopolitical situation of Poland. Nowak was also announced that day as the chairman of the Civic Support Committee for Karol Nawrocki. On the day of its inauguration, it had 170 members. The committee sent a letter to the authorities of Law and Justice, in which its signatories expressed support for the candidate supported by that party. In addition to former PiS politicians and people previously associated with this political formation, the committee was joined by, among others: Prof. Jan à »aryn, Prof. Jerzy à »yà ¼yà Âski, Prof. , Prof. and Dr. .
He has received several awards and honors, including the Order of the White Eagle (Polish: Order Orà Âa Biaà Âego), Poland's highest state distinction.
Andrzej Nowak is married and has two children.