Abstrakt: | The purpose of the case study is to highlight the main stages, and their characteristics, in
Polish foreign policy towards the Russian Federation in the twenty‑year
period after the end
of Cold War era. The particular attention has been paid to the most recent period in Polish‑Russian
relations that falls between 2008 and 2011. Author emphasizes new accents in Polish
foreign policy towards Russia, which were introduced by the Government of Donald Tusk
after 2008. The principal thesis of the case study assumes that the character of Polish‑Russian
relations in the post‑Cold
War era did depend on Russia and its internal and external policy,
including the policy towards Poland. However, it didn’t depend on it entirely. The Polish‑
Russian relations were also conditioned by Poland, Polish foreign policy and, above all, by
Polish policy towards Russia and its Western neighbors that had formed part of the Union of
Soviet Socialist Republics before. These bilateral relations were also conditioned by the existence
of Polish governing parties’ political will to improve relations with Russia. Both sides,
Poland and Russia, are responsible for the shape of Polish‑Russian
dialogue. In opposition to
the opinion that prevails in Poland, the Author reckons that the successive governing parties
in this country are somewhat responsible for the poor condition of Polish‑Russian
relations in
the post‑Cold
War era. In the case study the Author gives numerous arguments to back up his
statement. |