Between reluctance and  fascination. German issues in the journalistic and political activity of Mieczysław 
F. Rakowski (1957-1977) Cover Image

Między niechęcią a fascynacją. Problematyka niemiecka w publicystce i działalności politycznej Mieczysława F. Rakowskiego (1957-1977)
Between reluctance and fascination. German issues in the journalistic and political activity of Mieczysław F. Rakowski (1957-1977)

Author(s): Adam Barabasz
Subject(s): Media studies, International relations/trade
Published by: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego
Keywords: the German issue; FRG; Polish People’s Republic (PRL); NATO; EEC; revisionism; hegemonism

Summary/Abstract: The main aim of the article is to present the views of M. F. Rakowski on multidimensional German problem existing in the Polish People's Republic in the years 1945-1989. The author's intention is to present the evolution of the views of the long-time editor of the Polityka weekly on the German issue in the years 1957-1977. Based on the formulated research problem and the analysis of available sources, the following hypotheses can be formulated:- in the initial period of the development of the political career of M. F. Rakowski, his attitude to German issues was influenced by personal experiences,- at the turn of the 1950s and 1960s, M. F. Rakowski associated the rapid economic and political reconstruction of West Germany with Germany’s aggressive intentions to gain influence in Central and Eastern Europe and German efforts to revise the Yalta-Potsdam agreements,- after reaching the next levels of power in the party-state leadership of the Polish People’s Republic (PRL), M. F. Rakowski’s perspective of the assessment of Polish-West German relations underwent changes as evidenced by his activities. According to the author, M. F. Rakowski’s position on German issues evolved from reluctance to fascination. The article uses the historical method, analysis of sources and press content. The following methods also turned out to be useful: institutional and legal, comparative, behavioral and decision-making method.

  • Issue Year: 384/2022
  • Issue No: 03
  • Page Range: 177-189
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: English, Polish
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