DOCSLIB.ORG

Dilemmas of Poland's Foreign and Security Policies in the Post-Cold

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Dilemmas of Poland's Foreign and Security Policies in the Post-Cold Title: Dilemmas of Poland’s foreign and security policies in the post-Cold War period in the context of its geopolitical location between Russia and Germany Author: Mieczysław Stolarczyk Citation style: Stolarczyk Mieczysław. (2019). Dilemmas of Poland’s foreign and security policies in the post-Cold War period in the context of its geopolitical location between Russia and Germany. "Studia Politicae Universitatis Silesiensis" (2019, t. 26, s. 45-108), doi 10.31261/SPUS.2019.26.03 Studia Politicae Universitatis Silesiensis 2019, T. 26, s. 45—108 ISSN 2353-9747 (electronic version) www.studiapoliticae.us.edu.pl Date of receipt: 23.07.2019; date of acceptance: 15.09.2019 DOI: http://doi.org/10.31261/SPUS.2019.26.03 Dilemmas of Poland’s foreign and security policies in the post-Cold War period in the context of its geopolitical location between Russia and Germany Dylematy polityki zagranicznej i bezpieczeństwa Polski w okresie pozimnowojennym w kontekście jej geopolitycznego usytuowania między Rosją a Niemcami Mieczysław Stolarczyk* Abstract Abstrakt The research objective of this paper Celem badawczym w artykule jest uka- is the presentation of the influence (sig- zanie wpływu (znaczenia) czynnika geopo- nificance) of the geopolitical factor in litycznego w stosunkach Polski z Federacją Poland’s relations with the Russian Fed- Rosyjską (Rosją) i Republiką Federalną eration (Russia) and the Federal Republic Niemiec (Niemcami) w okresie pozimno- of Germany (Germany) in the post-Cold wojennym, w tym przede wszystkim na sto- War period, first and foremost the influ- pień zbieżnych i rozbieżnych (sprzecznych) ence on the shares of convergent and diver- interesów z tymi państwami oraz na dyle- gent (contradictory) interests of Poland maty z tym związane dla polityki zagra- and the two countries, as well as relevant nicznej i bezpieczeństwa Polski. Główna dilemmas concerning Poland’s foreign and teza badawcza zawiera się w stwierdze- security policies. The main research thesis niu, że czynnik geopolityczny, mimo is that the geopolitical factor remains one zmian zachodzących w ostatnich dziesię- * Institute of Political Science, Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Silesia in Katowice; (e-mail: [email protected]); https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9771-0062. 46 International Relations of the chief determinants of Poland’s rela- cioleciach w systemie międzynarodowym tions with Russia and Germany despite the (np. przyspieszenie procesów globalizacji), changes taking place in the international jest nadal jedną z głównych determinant system (e.g. the acceleration of globalisa- stosunków Polski z Rosją i Niemcami. Jed- tion processes) in the last few decades. nakże w okresie pozimnowojennym rzuto- In the post-Cold War period, however, wał on zdecydowanie bardziej negatywnie it affected Poland’s relations with Russia na stosunki Polski z Rosją niż na relacje in a much more negative way than it did Polski z Niemcami. W omawianym okre- the Polish-German relations. The German sie w polityce zagranicznej Polski znacznie problem in its traditional sense of a hazard zmalało znaczenie problemu niemieckie- source diminished considerably in the go, w jego tradycyjnym rozumieniu źródeł Polish foreign policy in the abovemen- zagrożenia, rosło natomiast znaczenie prob- tioned period, while the significance of the lemu rosyjskiego. Niemcy były postrzegane Russian problem increased. The decision przez decydentów polskiej polityki zagra- makers of the Polish foreign policy viewed nicznej przede wszystkim jako partner Germany first and foremost as a partner i sojusznik (w ramach NATO), natomiast and an ally (within NATO), while Russia Rosja, jako główne zagrożenie dla bezpie- was seen as the main hazard to Polish czeństwa Polski, w tym także jako zagro- security, including a military hazard in the żenie militarne (zagrożenie bezpośrednią form of a direct invasion. napaścią zbrojną). Wishing to present more detailed mat- Mając na uwadze zagadnienia bardziej ters, the paper brings to the fore i.a. the szczegółowe, w opracowaniu wyekspo- issues concerning the essence of the geopo- nowane zostały m.in. kwestie dotyczące litical factor in the foreign policies of coun- istoty czynnika geopolitycznego w poli- tries, certain conditions of Poland’s geopo- tyce zagranicznej państw, niektóre uwa- litical location in the post-Cold War period, runkowania geopolitycznego usytuowa- the main stages of Poland’s relations with nia Polski w okresie pozimnowojennym, Germany and Russia in that period togeth- główne etapy i ich cechy charaktery- er with their characteristics, the main areas styczne w stosunkach Polski z Niemcami of divergent interests in Poland’s relations i Rosją w tym czasie, główne obszary roz- with Germany and Russia in the second bieżnych interesów w stosunkach Polski decade of the 21st century, the similarities z Niemcami i Rosja w drugiej dekadzie and differences in Poland’s policy toward XXI w., podobieństwa i różnice w polity- Germany and Russia in the post-Cold War ce Polski wobec Niemiec i Rosji w okresie period as well as the main dilemmas of the pozimnowojennym oraz główne dylematy Polish foreign policy toward the end of the polityki zagranicznej Polski pod koniec second decade of the 21st century stem- drugiej dekady XXI w. wynikające z geo- ming from Poland’s geopolitical location politycznego usytuowania Polski między between Russia and Germany. Rosją a Niemcami. One main conclusion formulated on the Jeden z głównych wniosków sformu- basis on those deliberations is that Poland’s łowanych na podstawie przeprowadzonych geopolitical location between Russia and rozważań zawiera się w stwierdzeniu, że Germany does not doom Polish relations geopolityczne położenie Polski między with the two countries to a confrontational Rosją i Niemcami nie oznacza, że mając nature for historical reasons. The geopo- na uwadze związane z tym zaszłości histo- litical factor is not an independent prime ryczne, stosunki Polski z tymi państwami mover; it does not entail geopolitical deter- skazane są na konfrontacyjny charakter. minism which automatically eliminates the Czynnik geopolityczny nie ma bowiem possibility of influencing Poland’s geopo- charakteru samodzielnej siły sprawczej, de- litical situation by subsequent Polish gov- terminizmu geopolitycznego, automatycz- Mieczysław Stolarczyk: Dilemmas of Poland’s foreign and security policies… 47 ernments. The geopolitical location does nie eliminującego możliwości wpływu not determine eternal enemies or eternal kolejnych polskich rządów na zmianę geo- friends because one can derive various politycznej sytuacji Polski. Geopolityczne conceptions, programmes and objectives of usytuowanie nie determinuje ani wiecznych the foreign policy from the same geopoliti- wrogów ani wiecznych przyjaciół. Z tego cal location of Poland. samego położenia geopolitycznego Polski Key words: geopolitics, Poland’s foreign można bowiem wyprowadzić różne koncep- policy, Polish-German relations, Polish- cje, programy i cele polityki zagranicznej. Russian relations Słowa kluczowe: geopolityka, polityka zagraniczna Polski, stosunki polsko-nie- mieckie, stosunki polsko-rosyjskie Introduction When Poland regained independence in 1918, its foreign and internal policies in the subsequent periods and system forms (the Second Polish Republic, the postwar Polish republic, the Polish People’s Republic and the contemporary Re- public of Poland) were greatly determined by its geopolitical location between the two biggest neighbours, Germany and Russia, including by the subsequent system forms of those countries. The German system forms were: The Weimar Republic, the German Reich, the Federal Republic of Germany and the German Democratic Republic as well as reunified Germany (FRG) since 1990. The Rus- sian system forms included: Soviet Russia, the Union of Soviet Socialist Repub- lics (the USSR) and the Russian Federation (RF). The most important dilemma of Poland’s foreign and security policies in the 20th century as well as in the first and second decade of the 21st century stems from its geopolitical location between Germany and Russia and has been included in the search for an answer to the following question: What objectives should be formulated in Poland’s for- eign and security policies toward those countries and what means and methods should be used to accomplish them in order to strengthen Poland’s security as well as policy effectiveness in the bi- and multilateral relations with those coun- tries? What is the convergence and divergence of interests between Poland and Germany as well as Poland and Russia in the aspects which are crucial to Po- land’s security? Those issues have been discussed i.a. in relevant publications penned by politicians, journalists and researchers of the Polish foreign policy. The most important works on this topic published in the first decades of the 20th century include those by Roman Dmowski and Adolf Bocheński.1 1 R. Dmowski: Niemcy, Rosja i kwestia polska. Warszawa 1908; A. Bocheński: Między Niemcami a Rosją. Warszawa 1937. See more about the 19th- and 20th-century Polish geopo- litical thought in: L. Sykulski: Geopolityka. Skrypt dla początkujących. Częstochowa 2014, 48 International Relations One must stress that the policy toward Russia and Germany as well as the relations with both countries only partially depended on Poland’s actions. They were conditioned by intra-German and intra-Russian factors, the policies of those countries toward Poland, the German-Russian relations and the evolution
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Disorderly and Inhumane: the United States and the Expulsion of Germans After World War II
    Mississippi State University Scholars Junction Theses and Dissertations Theses and Dissertations 1-1-2015 Disorderly and Inhumane: the United States and the Expulsion of Germans after World War II Bradley J. Brewer Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td Recommended Citation Brewer, Bradley J., "Disorderly and Inhumane: the United States and the Expulsion of Germans after World War II" (2015). Theses and Dissertations. 1528. https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/1528 This Dissertation - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses and Dissertations at Scholars Junction. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Scholars Junction. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Automated Template A: Created by James Nail 2011 V2.02 Disorderly and inhumane: The United States and the expulsion of Germans after World War II By Bradley J. Brewer A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Mississippi State University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in History in the Department of History Mississippi State, Mississippi May 2015 Copyright by Bradley J. Brewer 2015 Disorderly and inhumane: The United States and the expulsion of Germans after World War II By Bradley J. Brewer Approved: ____________________________________ Richard V. Damms (Director of Dissertation) ____________________________________ Alan I. Marcus (Committee Member) ____________________________________ M. Kathryn Barbier (Committee Member) ____________________________________ William Anthony Hay (Committee Member) ____________________________________ Stephen C. Brain (Graduate Coordinator) ____________________________________ R. Gregory Dunaway Professor and Dean College of Arts & Sciences Name: Bradley J. Brewer Date of Degree: May 9, 2015 Institution: Mississippi State University Major Field: History Major Professor: Richard V.
    [Show full text]
  • “Historical Situations” in the Jurisprudence of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg
    XXX POLISH YEARBOOK OF IN TER NA TIO NAL LAW 2010 PL ISSN 0554-498X Ireneusz C. Kamiński* “HISTORICAL SITUATIONS” IN THE JURISPRUDENCE OF THE EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN STRASBOURG Abstract This Article investigates how the European Court of Human Rights becomes com- petent to make decisions in cases concerning (or taking roots in) “historical situations” preceding the ratifi cation of the European Convention by a given Member State or even the enactment of the Convention. “Historical situations” refer to events that occurred in the period of Second World War or shortly thereafter. In all such cases, the preliminary question arises whether the Court is competent temporally (ratione temporis) to deal with the application. This group of cases concerned usually allegations touching upon the right to life and the right to property. The Court had to decide if the allegation in question related to a temporally closed event (making the Court not competent) or rather to a continuous violation (where the Court could adjudicate). A specifi c set of legal questions arose vis-à-vis the right to life, fi rst of all that of the autonomy of the procedural obligation to conduct an effi cient investigation. The Strasbourg case law did not provide a clear answer. However, following two crucial judgements rendered by the Grand Chamber, the Court has established an interesting legal framework. Arti- cle analyses also two other situations having a historical dimension: bringing to justice those accused of war crimes or other crimes under international law (in light of the alleged confl ict with the principle of nullum crimes sine lege) and pursuing authors of pro-Nazi statements or speech denying the reality of Nazi atrocities.
    [Show full text]
  • UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations
    UCLA UCLA Electronic Theses and Dissertations Title The Representation of Forced Migration in the Feature Films of the Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, and Polish People’s Republic (1945–1970) Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/0hq1924k Author Zelechowski, Jamie Publication Date 2017 Peer reviewed|Thesis/dissertation eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA Los Angeles The Representation of Forced Migration in the Feature Films of the Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, and Polish People’s Republic (1945–1970) A dissertation submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree Doctor of Philosophy in Germanic Languages by Jamie Leigh Zelechowski 2017 © Copyright by Jamie Leigh Zelechowski 2017 ABSTRACT OF THE DISSERTATION The Representation of Forced Migration in the Feature Films of the Federal Republic of Germany, German Democratic Republic, and Polish People’s Republic (1945–1970) by Jamie Leigh Zelechowski Doctor of Philosophy in Germanic Languages University of California, Los Angeles, 2017 Professor Todd S. Presner, Co-Chair Professor Roman Koropeckyj, Co-Chair My dissertation investigates the cinematic representation of forced migration (due to the border changes enacted by the Yalta and Potsdam conferences in 1945) in East Germany, West Germany, and Poland, from 1945–1970. My thesis is that, while the representations of these forced migrations appear infrequently in feature film during this period, they not only exist, but perform an important function in the establishment of foundational national narratives in the audiovisual sphere. Rather than declare the existence of some sort of visual taboo, I determine, firstly, why these images appear infrequently; secondly, how and to what purpose(s) existing representations are mobilized; and, thirdly, their relationship to popular and official discourses.
    [Show full text]
  • Sharing a Divided Memory. the First Half of 20Th Century History in the Cultures of Remembrance in Post-Cold War Germany and Poland
    臺灣師大歷史學報 第 61 期 2019 年 6 月，頁 1-46 DOI: 10.6243/BHR.201906_(61).0001 Sharing a Divided Memory. The First Half of 20th Century History in the Cultures of Remembrance in Post-Cold War Germany and Poland Christoph Thonfeld∗ Abstract The relationship between Germany and Poland in the first half of the 20th century had been mostly one of aggressive territorial competition and resettlement of people. After the collapse of the communist regimes in Poland and East Germany, followed by German reunification, the history of this relationship has been reconceptualised within the framework of European integration. Despite overall progress, there are still numerous obstacles that need to be overcome. Thus, seen from the perspective of cultures of remembrance, it becomes obvious how fragile the re-established neighbourly relationship and both countries’ quest for internal and bilateral normalization still are. Ever since 1945, there has been an “on-going saga of competitive victimhood” between people in both countries, where the wrongs one has done to the other have to be minimized or delegitimized in order to build a national identity on a sense of being deeply wronged. Reconciliation efforts quickly reached a short-lived ∗ Research Fellow, Institute of Advanced Studies, University College London - 2 - 臺灣師大歷史學報 第 61 期 peak in 1994/5 but this rapid rapprochement was derailed around the millennium when both sides realized that there were still a number of unresolved issues concerning the recent past. These incidents signalled a return to more re-nationalized approaches to historical memories. Another ten years later, both sides became more and more aware that a more pragmatic approach to the opposite side was needed in order to further develop the bilateral relationship despite remaining differences concerning the views of the past.
    [Show full text]
  • Austria͛s Internaional Posiion After the End Of
    ƵƐƚƌŝĂ͛Ɛ/ŶƚĞƌŶĂƟŽŶĂůWŽƐŝƟŽŶ ĂŌĞƌƚŚĞŶĚŽĨƚŚĞŽůĚtĂƌ Günter Bischof, Ferdinand Karlhofer (Eds.) CONTEMPORARY AUSTRIAN STUDIES | VOLUME 22 UNO PRESS innsbruck university press Copyright © 2013 by University of New Orleans Press, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage nd retrieval system, without prior permission in writing from the publisher. All inquiries should be addressed to UNO Press, University of New Orleans, LA 138, 2000 Lakeshore Drive. New Orleans, LA, 70119, USA. www.unopress.org. Printed in the United States of America Design by Lauren Capone Cover photo credit: Hopi Media Published in the United States by Published and distributed in Europe University of New Orleans Press: by Innsbruck University Press ISBN: 9781608011162 ISBN: 9783902936011 UNO PRESS Contemporary Austrian Studies Sponsored by the University of New Orleans and Universität Innsbruck Editors Günter Bischof, CenterAustria, University of New Orleans Ferdinand Karlhofer, Universität Innsbruck Assistant Editor Production and Copy Editor Dominik Hofmann-Wellenhof Lauren Capone University of New Orleans Executive Editors Christina Antenhofer, Universität Innsbruck Kevin Graves, University of New Orleans Advisory Board Siegfried Beer Sándor Kurtán Universität Graz Corvinus University Budapest Peter Berger Günther Pallaver Wirtschaftsuniversität
    [Show full text]
  • L Eip 3-18.Indd
    MYŚL EKONOMICZNA I POLITYCZNA MYŚL EKONOMICZNA I POLITYCZNA 3 (62) 2018 DOI: 10.26399/meip.3(62).2018 Uczelnia Łazarskiego RADA PROGRAMOWA / ADVISORY BOARD prof. dr hab. Andrzej Antoszewski, Uniwersytet Wrocławski (University of Wrocław) dr hab. Wojciech Bieńkowski, Uczelnia Łazarskiego (Lazarski University) prof. dr hab. Tadeusz Bodio, Uniwersytet Warszawski (University of Warsaw) prof. dr hab. Paweł Chmielnicki, Uniwersytet Rzeszowski (University of Rzeszów) dr Jens Boysen (Technische Universität Chemnitz) dr Nathaniel Copsey (Aston University) dr Małgorzata Gałązka-Sobotka, Uczelnia Łazarskiego (Lazarski University) dr hab. Bogna Gawrońska-Nowak, Uczelnia Łazarskiego (Lazarski University) prof. dr hab. Svetlana P. Glinkina (Institute of Economy of Russian Academy of Sciences) prof. dr hab. Krystyna Iglicka-Okólska, Uczelnia Łazarskiego (Lazarski University) prof. dr hab. Natalia V. Kulikova (Lomonosov Moscow State University) dr hab. Krzysztof Łazarski, Uczelnia Łazarskiego (Lazarski University) dr hab. Daria Nałęcz, Uczelnia Łazarskiego (Lazarski University) prof. dr hab. Bogdan Szlachta, Uniwersytet Jagielloński (Jagiellonian University) dr hab. Krzysztof Miszczak, Szkoła Główna Handlowa (Warsaw School of Economics) prof. dr hab. Ana Yetano Sánchez de Muniaín (University of Zaragoza) KOLEGIUM REDAKCYJNE / EDITORIAL BOARD Józef M. Fiszer, redaktor naczelny (editor-in-chief) Dariusz K. Rosati, zastępca redaktora naczelnego (deputy editor-in-chief), Paweł Olszewski, sekretarz (secretary) Andrzej Podraza, członek (member), Zdzisław Puślecki,
    [Show full text]
  • Europeanization and Euroscepticism: Xperiences from Poland and The
    Europeanization and Euroscepticism: Experiences from Poland and the Czech Republic Søren Riishøj Associate professor Department of Political Science and Public Management University of Southern Denmark Email-address: [email protected] Poli tical Science Publications No. 25/2010 This publication focuses on the phenomenon Euroscepticism and its manifestations in the EU countries from the East. The scholary interest in Euroscepticism grew substantially after the Danish, Irish, French and Netherland “no’s” at EU-referenda and the manifestation of “soft” Euroscepticism in most new EU member countries from the East. Special sections are devoted to EU policy and Euroscepticism in Poland and the Czech Republic. The presentation begins with a brief presentation and clarification of the concepts of national and European identity and after that the phenomena of “Europeanization” and “Euroscepticism” including the most relevant classifications and types of Euroscepticism. Some of those concepts and classifications will be included in the sections dealing with manifestation of Euroscepticism in the region as a whole and in Poland and the Czech Republic in particular. Special emphasis is laid on state strategies and party-based Euroscepticism As we shall see in the following, the manifestations of “Eurorealism” and “Euroscepticism have differed much between the countries, also between the two rather “soft” eurosceptic countries, Poland and Czech Republic – and that before as well as after the two countries accession to the EU in 2004. Key words: National and European identity, Europeanization, Euroscepticism, Poland and the Czech Republic 2 National and European identity The concept “national identity” was the object of several scholarly studies already back in the 1950s and 1960s, e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • Industrien Løgn
    «I palestinerne like ille som jødene ble behandlet under andre verdenskrig.» I sa ni prosent i en meningsmåling fra HL-senteret at dette «stemmer helt». prosent sa «det stemmer nokså godt». Bare én av tre nordmenn hadde kunnskap nok om Midtøsten eller andre verdenskrig til å ta avstand fra denne horrible anklagen. Det er tydelig at det er svært god etterspørsel etter løgnindustriens varer og tjenester i Norge. Det er derfor denne boken er så viktig. Ben-Dror Yemini tar for seg en rekke av anklagene mot staten Israel, og viser med en jurists og forskers grundighet hvordan de bygger på løgn. Grunnleggeren av Human Rights Watch, Robert Bernstein, var en av dem som oppmuntret Yemini til å skrive denne boken. Bernstein mener menneskerettighetsorganisasjoner, inkludert den han selv var med å starte, hjelper dem som ønsker å gjøre Israel fredløs i det internasjonale samfunnet. Løgnindustrien begynte ut fra gode intensjoner, med en generasjon europeere som tok side med dem de så som den svake parten − palestinerne. Men på veien gikk noe forferdelig galt. Etter hvert var ikke intensjonene like gode lenger. Fra legitim kritikk av Israel ble sannheten vridd på og det endte opp i regelrette løgner. Løgnindustrien har skapt en av vår tids største svindelsaker. Løgnindustrien B-D Y ble født i Tel Aviv i 1954. Hans familie kom som yktninger til Israel fra Jemen. Han har studert samfunnsfag, historie og jus. I 1984 begynte han sin karriere som journalist. Fra 2003 til 2014 var han debattredaktør i avisen Ma'ariv. Siden våren 2015 har Yemini vært journalist og kommentator i Yedioth Aharonoth, Israel største betalingsavis.
    [Show full text]
  • The Transformation of Nationalism in Central and Eastern Europe Ideas and Structures
    e d The i Tr te an d Ideas and Stru sf b ctu o y r r es m K a a r t l i o C n o r d o e f l l N & a K t o i n o r n a d a J l i a s e j e m p c z o n i r n i k u C E e n n r t e r t a s l a a E n d The Faculty of Journalism and Political Science University of Warsaw The Transformation of Nationalism in Central and Eastern Europe Ideas and Structures University of Warsaw Faculty of Journalism and Political Science The Transformation of Nationalism in Central and Eastern Europe Ideas and Structures edited by Karl Cordell & Konrad Jajecznik Warsaw 2015 Für Tante Dore Karl Cordell Publishing series: Etnopolityka, vol. 2. Scientific Editor of the series: Professor dr. habil. Andrzej Wierzbicki, University of Warsaw Reviewed by Professor Levente Salat (Babeş-Bolyai University) Cover project Tomasz Kasperczyk © Copyright by University of Warsaw, Faculty of Journalism and Political Science Warsaw 2015 ISBN: 978-83-63183-81-3 Publishing sheets: 12,5 Edition of the book supported by the University of Warsaw Foundation Publisher: University of Warsaw Faculty of Journalism and Political Science Krakowskie Przedmieście 3 00–927 Warsaw, Poland Phone: 48 22 55 20 293 e-mail: [email protected] www.wydawnictwo.wdinp.uw.edu.pl Typeset and printing by University of Warsaw (Zakład Graficzny UW. Zam. 1114/2014) Contents Acknowledgments ……………………………………………………………………… 9 Introduction …………………………………………………………………………… 11 Karl Cordell Germany and Poland: Strangers on a Train or Participants of a Common Destiny? ……………………………………………………………………………… 17 Konrad Jajecznik
    [Show full text]
  • Polish-German Relations During the Rule of the PO-PSL Coalition (2007-2009)
    PRZEGLĄD ZACHODNI 2009, No 4 BOGDAN KOsZEL Poznań “A NEW opening?” POLISH-GERMAN RELATIONS DURING THE RULE OF THE PO-PSL COALITION (2007-2009) POLISH-GERMAN RELATIONS DURING THE RULE OF THE PO-PSL COALITION (2007-2009) REstORAtION Of tRust Poland’s accession to the European union in 2004 was supposed to give rise to further cooperation between Poland and Germany in many areas and on a qualita- tively higher level. soon however, one could talk about disappointment as the mutual interaction was hugely affected by the consequences of the parliamentary election in the federal Republic of Germany, as well as by the parliamentary and presidential election in Poland in the autumn of 2005. After the change of governments in both countries there soon appeared misunderstandings, controversies and distrust. Words about a crisis, regression and “kitsch” of Polish-German reconciliation were uttered by politicians and journalists. the Law and Justice party (Pis) came to power by fanning the flame of anti-German resentment still present in a substantial part of the Polish society. Advocates of a dialogue and mutual understanding with Germany were called traitors or naïve persons. Conservative ideologists denied that there is any Polish-German community of interests, not even in the Eu or in NAtO, and in- stead they gave priority to the “community of conflict”. It was not difficult to notice that this aggressive propaganda weighed down the opposition including the Civic Platform (PO) and also the Democratic Left Alliance (sLD), and rarely any matter- of-fact polemics was raised. the shared achievements of the neighbourship earned with substantial difficul- ties since 1989 were more and more frequently questioned.
    [Show full text]
  • Pl Issn 0033-2437
    The Polish Western Border Poland, Germany and the Genesis of World War II Neue Wache (1818-1993) The German Democratic Republic’s Attitude Towards the Nazi Past The Border Controversy in the Pomeranian Bay The Most Common Polish Surnames in Germany Realization of the Rights of Poles in Germany Poles on the German Job Market Cultural Cooperation (1990-2010) Polish-German Relations (2007-2009) America – Poland’s Perfect Ally Polish-German Relations in the European Union Polish Attitudes Towards the European Union About the Strategy of Promoting Poland The Priorities of Poland’s Presidency in the Council of the European Union Polish Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) 2012 Special number PL ISSN 0033 -2437 ROK LXVIII LIPIEC – WRZESIEN´ 2012 NR 3 PRZEGLA˛D ZACHODNI SPECIAL NUMBER 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS Marceli Kosman, The Polish Western Border. Seven Decades of Gerard Labuda’s Research 3 Stanisław Z˙erko, Poland, Germany and the Genesis of World War II ........ 23 Zbigniew Mazur, Neue Wache (1818-1993) ................ 49 Anna Wolff-Powe˛ska, The German Democratic Republic’s Attitude Towards the Nazi Past . 73 Natalia Jackowska, The Border Controversy between the Polish People’s Republic and the German Democratic Republic in the Pomeranian Bay ........... 103 Mariusz Kowalski, Przemysław S´leszyn´ski, The Migration of Poles to Germany in the Contex of the Most Common Polish Surnames ................ 119 Aleksandra Trzcielin´ska-Polus, Realization of the Rights of Poles in Germany Following the Treaty on Good Neighbourship ................... 137 Tomasz Budnikowski, Poles on the German Job Market ............ 157 Maria Wagin´ska-Marzec, Cultural Cooperation in the Light of the Provisions of the Treaties and Agreements (1990-2010) ..................
    [Show full text]
  • SWP Comments 2004/32, November 2004, 8 Pages
    Introduction Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik German Institute for International and Security Affairs Pragmatic Cooperation instead of a Strategic Partnership SWP Comments The Current Status and Perspectives for German-Polish Relations Kai-Olaf Lang German-Polish relations are currently going through a difficult phase. The announce- ment by expelled Germans, to file claims for restitution in Polish and international courts, and the demand made by the Polish Parliament for war reparations, have ensured that there will be turbulent relations between the two countries. Although both the German and Polish governments distanced themselves from those demands, tension in bilateral relations in the near term should be expected, in part because in Poland there are growing doubts about whether a long-term orientation towards Germany makes sense. At the same time, since Poland’s accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004, there has not been a big project that binds both sides together in a constructive way. Therefore, the approach of a less ambitious “pragmatic coopera- tion” of both countries seems to be more realistic than one with a specific two-party relationship, a type of “strategic partnership.” The announcements by German citizens The Parliament requested the govern- of their intention to sue to recover their ment to become more involved with assets lost because of World War II, or at regard to the question of obtaining war least compensatory damages, in Polish reparations from Germany. and international courts has bothered the The Sejm emphasized that no financial general public in Poland for some time. obligations to German citizens what- The Polish Parliament took the opportu- soever, which arise as a result of World nity, on September 10, 2004, to pass a War II, would be accepted.
    [Show full text]