Marcin Czugan: Instrumentalism is a Dead End

Consumer protection in Poland has devolved into a strategic weapon for business rivalries, rather than a genuine safeguard for individuals, argues Marcin Czugan.

He explains that consumer rights are now skillfully manipulated, becoming an "arsenal in business disputes." This instrumentalization means that the very mechanisms designed to protect consumers are instead used to gain competitive advantages in the marketplace.

The consequence, Czugan writes, is that consumers themselves suffer the most. Deprived of authentic protection, they become disoriented and are frequently misled. The system, intended to empower them, instead leaves them vulnerable and confused.

Czugan concludes that this "instrumentalism" is ultimately a dead end, failing to serve its intended purpose and harming the very people it is supposed to help. The focus shifts from genuine consumer welfare to tactical business maneuvering.