Sovereign Poland in an Unstable World
Sovereign Poland in an Unstable World

Summary/Abstract: We enter the 20th year of Poland’s full sovereignty and independence. The establishment after the World War II of the first non-Communist government headed by Tadeusz Mazowiecki gives rise to reflection and summaries. It is worth reminding here—very briefly by necessity—of the expectations that reigned at the time. On 4 March 1990, Stefan Kisielewski published an article, in the title of which—in his typical perverse way—he posed a question: “Who needs Poland?” And he provided an answer: “I am still afraid of periodical, unconscious outbursts of madness of the Germans and long-term, slavishly ideological lunacy of the Russians. And thus, Poland will continue its existence between the most powerful production superpower of the world (apart from the US and Japan) and the largest colonial empire of this world, although in decline, but still capable of military madness. Poland is the bridge from the Western, currently pacifist countries of France, Italy, Austria through reunified Germany to Euro-Asiatic nations of the Soviet Empire. Is it fulfilling its role, will it prove strong enough, is it not an obstacle to anybody? And then again my question arises: Who needs Poland?”1 Today, from the perspective of 20 years that have passed, we can answer this question, perverse and rhetoric in its essence, that first of all it is the Poles who need Poland, but also Europe and the world need it.

• Details
• Contents