Jean-Yves POTEL - Poland’s Eastern Policy

Pouvoirs n°118 - La Pologne - septembre 2006 - p.113-123

Given its geo-political situation, Poland has always had an “Eastern policy”. Conceived as an opposition to the “limited sovereignty” within the Soviet block, it has also rejected two traditional Polish stereotypes of Russia: either the obscure enemy of Poland and progress, or the liberator of the people. It has put forward a different configuration: the coexistence between a Russia having renounced its empire, and a Poland reconciled with its Ukrainian, Lithuanian and Byelorussian neighbors. Since 1989, all the governments have acted within this framework, seeking in particular to bring Ukraine closer to the European Union. However, this action has been limited by Vladimir Putin’s new diplomacy, in particular his closer relationship with the United States since September 11, 2001, and by the strategic visions of the main EU member states. These limits were obvious in the fall of 2004, at the time of the “Orange revolution” in Ukraine, and more recently regarding the definition of Europe’s energy policy. Résumé

Référence électonique : Jean-Yves POTEL, "Poland’s Eastern Policy", Pouvoirs, revue française d’études constitutionnelles et politiques, n°118, 2006, p.113-123. Consulté le 02-06-2012. URL : http://www.revue-pouvoirs.fr/Poland-s-Eastern-Policy.html