Poland in the European Arena after Accession

• Authors: Góralczyk Bogdan
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Poland, as a middle-income and middle-sized power, has been constantly growing during the process of its post-Communist transformation (1990–2014). In this multilayered study the author employs the viewpoints of political science, sociology, economy, international relations, and even the philosophy of development. He concludes that with respect to both the contemporary and future role of Poland on the international scene, its domestic dynamics is no less important than its share of power on the global level. In that regard, after 2008 a fundamental change has been taking place, i.e. the erosion of Western domination, in contrast to the early years of Poland’s transformation, when it so eagerly wanted to be a part of the West. In particular this concerns the European Union, which has been the ‘modernization anchor’ for Poland. Following the crisis of 2008 the EU has been in a state of fl ux and structura crisis, the outcome of which is still uncertain. Simultaneously the events in Ukraine and the annexation of Crimea by Russia have created an era of new geostrategic challenges - and very close to Poland’s borders. Thus, Poland finds itself once again facing its classical dilemma: between Russia and Germany. The author concludes that Poland has no other choice than to elaborate a new raison d’etat, like in the early 1990s. However, in order to do this one needs domestic unity, which unfortunately is lacking in Poland now. And this is the major challenge it faces.

Keywords

EN

POLAND; EUROPEAN UNION; INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS; NATO; UKRAINE CRISIS,; GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS,; GLOBAL ORDER

• Publisher: Centre for Europe, University of Warsaw
• Journal: Yearbook of Polish European Studies
• Year: 2014
• Volume: 17
• Pages: s.91-116

Contributors

author

Góralczyk Bogdan

• Centrum Europejskie Uniwersytetu Warszawskiego