War, Safety, and the Civilian: Reading Poland’s Safety Guide

This is NOT an online meeting but an in-person meeting.
Reading the book is not required.

During the book discussion the leader of the discussion presents the most interesting parts of the book. The great emphasis is placed on discussion.

Book Description

The Safety Guide is a small booklet recently distributed to people across Poland, offering instructions on how to behave in situations of danger. On the surface, it’s a practical manual. But beneath that, it raises deeper questions: What risks does the state consider likely today? How prepared are citizens—psychologically and socially—for crises? And what does the very existence of such a guide say about trust, fear, and collective responsibility?

In this discussion, we’ll treat the guide not only as a set of instructions, but as a starting point for a broader conversation about safety, social resilience, and how we respond—individually and together—when uncertainty becomes real.

Discussion Topics

• Which threats are emphasized in the guide—and which are missing?
• Does this kind of communication increase resilience, or does it amplify anxiety?
• How much responsibility does the guide place on individuals versus collective action?
• Would people realistically follow these instructions in a real crisis?
• What does the guide reveal about the relationship between the state and its citizens?
• What would a community-based safety guide look like instead of an institutional one?