Coalition of Ideas: Warsaw Hosts Inaugural Center-Right Meeting at Stańczyk Club

Ordo Iuris

In a significant development for Poland’s conservative movement, the newly established Stańczyk Club in Warsaw hosted its first Coalition Meeting last Friday. This event marks the introduction of a model of center-right collaboration that has been influential in the United States since the early 1990s.

Introducing the Stańczyk Club: a new hub for conservative collaboration

The Stańczyk Club, located on Piękna Street in the heart of Warsaw, was inaugurated last week as a joint initiative by the Ordo Iuris Institute, the Center for Life and Family, and the Piotr Skarga Christian Culture Association. The club aims to serve as a hub for intellectual, spiritual, and social formation inspired by Christian civilization. It provides a space for individuals to deepen their knowledge, exchange views, and engage in activities promoting the common good.

The concept of Coalition Meetings originated in Washington, D.C., in 1993, spearheaded by Americans for Tax Reform. These invitation-only gatherings bring together center-right activists and leaders to network, collaborate on pressing issues, and update attendees on their projects. The meetings have since expanded to 44 of the 50 U.S. states and to 16 countries outside the United States, fostering cooperation among the Right worldwide.

The Wednesday Meeting series, initiated in 1993 by Grover Norquist at the headquarters of Americans for Tax Reform, was originally conceived as a strategy session to counter President Clinton’s healthcare agenda. Over time, it evolved into a cornerstone of conservative political coordination in the United States. Often described as an essential stop for well-connected Republican strategists and likened to the "Grand Central Station" of the conservative movement, the gathering has played a pivotal role in fostering collaboration across the ideological spectrum of the American right. Scholars have noted its effectiveness in creating networks of mutual support and reinforcing a shared moral and political identity among activists.

From Washington to Warsaw: the expansion of Coalition Meetings

The Warsaw meeting attracted a diverse group of participants, including scholars, lawyers, and social activists from Poland, Hungary, Austria, and the United States. The event was opened by Grover Norquist followed by Peter Törcsi, operative director at Hungary’s Center for Fundamental Rights, and Barbara Kolm, a former vice-president of Austria’s central bank, who lead the Coalition Meetings in their respective countries.

One of the speakers highlighted the significance of the event, stating, "Grover, of course, is the father of coalition meetings globally, so it’s a special honor to have you here and a special honor that we will be opening the first coalition meeting in this country."

The meeting underscored the importance of building a broad coalition by focusing on shared values and goals. The main shared values is usually that the participants are “pro-gun” (at least in the USA, while this may be less true in Europe), “pro-life”, “pro-school-choice” (for parents), and “pro-lower taxes”. However, as one participant explained, "If you want the votes of people who are good on guns, good on taxes, and good on faith issues, that is a small intersection of voters. But if you say, ‘Give me the votes of anybody who agrees with me on any of these issues,’ that’s a much bigger section of the population."

Forging leaders for a sovereign, Christian Poland: the mission of the Stańczyk Club

The Stańczyk Club plans to host regular meetings, lectures, and debates aimed at shaping elites capable of responsible leadership in society. By collaborating with social initiatives and professional and expert communities, the club seeks to promote attitudes and values conducive to the development of mature and effective engagement for a sovereign, independent Poland rooted in Catholic culture and Latin civilization. During the opening evening of the Stańczyk Club on the day before it hosted the first Polish Coalition Meeting, it hosted other known figures of the American Right, such as Brian S. Brown, the co-founder of the National Organization for Marriage and president of the World Congress of Families, and Bradley Hahn, a committed Catholic, an attorney and co-founder of Solidarity Healthcare.

The successful launch of the Coalition Meeting in Warsaw signifies a step forward in uniting center-right forces in Poland and beyond. By adopting a model that has proven effective in the United States and other countries, the Stańczyk Club aims to foster a collaborative environment where conservative ideas can flourish and influence public discourse.

As the club grows and hosts future events, it is poised to become a central platform for conservative thought and action in Poland, contributing to the broader international network of center-right collaboration. One of the club’s recurring events will be the Coalition Meetings, held on the first Wednesday of every month at 10 a.m.

Anyone interested in participating is encouraged to contact the organizers by emailing [email protected].