Irena Maryniak
is a writer and translator living in London. She is the author of Offence: The Christian Case, part of the Manifestos for the 21st Century series published by Seagull Books in association with Index on Censorship.
Eurozine Articles
The new boys in Europe
Why are the super-rich bankrolling the press?
Respected but bankrupt European newspaper titles such as "Le Monde", "El Pais" and the "Independent" have recently been sold to business tycoons unconnected with the media. Their motives are debatable, but the ones to watch are the Russians says Irena Maryniak. [more]
Table talk
"It is an unnatural but positive development when democracy trains people to believe that, overall, it is better to let the bastard speak." Former Solidarity actvist and journalist Konstanty Gebert on censorship post-'89 and anti-Semitism in Poland today. [more]
From patriotism to plurality
The Polish media journey
After an ebullient beginning post-1989, the Polish media appears to have lost its impetus for reform. Media law has yet to catch up with the facts on the ground and constitutional assurances of free expression are not translated into legal independence. [more]
The edge of the volcano
Forced labour is widespread in Europe. But until policy makers recognize the need to manage the demand for migrant workers, there will continue to be a market for those prepared to risk exploitation. [more]
The Polish plumber and the image game
The Polish plumber is a cliché throughout Europe, which even the Polish tourist board has made use of. However, in the UK the joke veils a growing resentment towards workers from the new EU states. [more]
Cities of migration
How do outsiders negotiate the new urban space in which they arrive? How do they make it their own? [more]
And now for something completely different?
Polish journalists are adept at self-censorship. Not that they would call it that; more a question of not washing dirty linen in Euro-waters and keeping up the self-image. [more]
Aids in Russia
Ignorance, exclusion and denial
The Russian government remains quiet on the country's Aids epidemic. [more]
Forging the social contract
The rule of law is no substitute for the bonds of friendship. [more]
Goodbye Solidarity
... and Welcome to Poland's New Breed Democrats
Irena Maryniak describes Poland's new breed of democrats as europhobic, catholic-backed, warm and xenophobic, glowing from their unexpected triumph at the polls. [more]











