Abstract
It is possible to see a call for re-introduction of the death penalty as a manifestation of fear. Not just individual people but also society as a whole or its particular part can react this way on sudden social changes affecting profoundly a way of life, morals and value system.
By supporting the "capital punishment", people can demonstrate their disapproval of a whole complex of liberal European values or some particular trend experienced as new, undesirable and threatening - raising fear. The long term tendency to support death penalty is declining in Poland; its re-introduction is highly unlikely with regard to the membership of Poland in the EU and Council of Europe among others.
Nevertheless, the strongest opposition party Law and Justice has announced recently the intention to propose amendments to the Penal Code, including the reintroduction of the capital punishment.