Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence

Over the last quarter of the century relations between Russia and Poland are balancing between trying to understand the burden of mutual guilt and a desire to construct non-emotional pragmatic relations. Sources of tension vary. In particular, it is the desire of Poland to position itself as a value...

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Main Author: D. V. Ofitserov-Belskiy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MGIMO University Press 2014-12-01
Series:Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
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Online Access:https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/237
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author D. V. Ofitserov-Belskiy
author_facet D. V. Ofitserov-Belskiy
author_sort D. V. Ofitserov-Belskiy
collection DOAJ
description Over the last quarter of the century relations between Russia and Poland are balancing between trying to understand the burden of mutual guilt and a desire to construct non-emotional pragmatic relations. Sources of tension vary. In particular, it is the desire of Poland to position itself as a valued player in NATO and the EU and the role distance between the two countries in IR system, which does not allow Russia to maintain an equal political dialogue with Poland. In fact, Poland is not afraid of a direct threat from Russia, but the worst scenario is the one in which Russia without changing the content of its imperial policy can be accepted as a full partner in the international community. The evolution of Russian statehood and national specifics of democracy is largely determined the assessment of the prospects of Russian politics in Poland. The mistake of Polish diplomacy last years was that it took no direct efforts to improve relations with Russia, but only tried to impose the dialogue on Russian authorities. Diplomatic methods were designed to hurt Russian interests and to create a topic for discussion. In response, after 2006 Russia chose the tactic of ignoring Poland. But, ignoring Polish authorities, Russian politicians acted similarly with other political forces. In Poland among influential political forces, there was and there is still no loyalty to Russia. For Russian interests it is no matter who are or will be in power in Poland. However as a rule, it is an important factor that foreign policy decisions are de facto within the competences of the President and the government, as well as experiencing a significant influence of the parliamentary forces. Recent trends show no tangible innovations in bilateral programme. But innovations appear in multilateral and conflict enough issues, such as deployment of US missile defense system in Poland or Polish supervision of "Eastern Partnership" programme. The main problem is low self-sufficiency of bilateral relations and excessive influence of third countries. Any efforts to normalize bilateral relations will be meaningless until the weight of bilateral relations really increases to each of the party.
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spelling doaj-art-4720ee9d203a4130b0d9e16ad3e1bcb12025-01-30T12:16:11ZengMGIMO University PressVestnik MGIMO-Universiteta2071-81602541-90992014-12-0106(39)182810.24833/2071-8160-2014-6-39-18-28237Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable CoexistenceD. V. Ofitserov-Belskiy0Higher School of EconomicsOver the last quarter of the century relations between Russia and Poland are balancing between trying to understand the burden of mutual guilt and a desire to construct non-emotional pragmatic relations. Sources of tension vary. In particular, it is the desire of Poland to position itself as a valued player in NATO and the EU and the role distance between the two countries in IR system, which does not allow Russia to maintain an equal political dialogue with Poland. In fact, Poland is not afraid of a direct threat from Russia, but the worst scenario is the one in which Russia without changing the content of its imperial policy can be accepted as a full partner in the international community. The evolution of Russian statehood and national specifics of democracy is largely determined the assessment of the prospects of Russian politics in Poland. The mistake of Polish diplomacy last years was that it took no direct efforts to improve relations with Russia, but only tried to impose the dialogue on Russian authorities. Diplomatic methods were designed to hurt Russian interests and to create a topic for discussion. In response, after 2006 Russia chose the tactic of ignoring Poland. But, ignoring Polish authorities, Russian politicians acted similarly with other political forces. In Poland among influential political forces, there was and there is still no loyalty to Russia. For Russian interests it is no matter who are or will be in power in Poland. However as a rule, it is an important factor that foreign policy decisions are de facto within the competences of the President and the government, as well as experiencing a significant influence of the parliamentary forces. Recent trends show no tangible innovations in bilateral programme. But innovations appear in multilateral and conflict enough issues, such as deployment of US missile defense system in Poland or Polish supervision of "Eastern Partnership" programme. The main problem is low self-sufficiency of bilateral relations and excessive influence of third countries. Any efforts to normalize bilateral relations will be meaningless until the weight of bilateral relations really increases to each of the party.https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/237russia-polish relationsforeign policy of polandpolish-american relationseucommon foreign and security policynato
spellingShingle D. V. Ofitserov-Belskiy
Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence
Vestnik MGIMO-Universiteta
russia-polish relations
foreign policy of poland
polish-american relations
eu
common foreign and security policy
nato
title Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence
title_full Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence
title_fullStr Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence
title_full_unstemmed Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence
title_short Russia and Poland: Problems of Inevitable Coexistence
title_sort russia and poland problems of inevitable coexistence
topic russia-polish relations
foreign policy of poland
polish-american relations
eu
common foreign and security policy
nato
url https://www.vestnik.mgimo.ru/jour/article/view/237
work_keys_str_mv AT dvofitserovbelskiy russiaandpolandproblemsofinevitablecoexistence