Borderland Museums in Poland – Towards a Critical Research Framework

Abstract

Goal – The article develops a theoretical and analytical model for studying museum representations of the borderland, focusing on how these spaces become arenas of memory and identity construction. Research methodology – The article is conceptual and based on desk research. It draws on critical literature in museum studies, borderland studies, memory studies, and postcolonial theory. It proposes a qualitative methodology combining critical discourse analysis, visual interpretation, and the study of curatorial strategies that shape narratives about the borderland and the Eastern Borderlands (Kresy). Score/results – The article aims to: conceptualise museums as actors in memory politics and identity formation in border regions; analyse tensions between national, local, and minority narratives; propose analytical dimensions (e.g., inclusion/exclusion, center/periphery, symbolic power) for interpreting museum narratives; reflect on the museum’s role in shaping discourses on multiculturalism and identity in peripheral areas. Originality/value – The article offers a novel contribution by treating the borderland as an analytical category that exposes mechanisms of cultural representation and symbolic hierarchy. It integrates critical borderland studies and postcolonial theory into museum analysis, introduces methodological tools for examining regional museums as cultural actors, and provides insights for both scholars and practitioners seeking more inclusive and dialogical forms of heritage representation.