Buffer territories in Polish‑Russian relations: the case of Belarus Cover Image

Terytoria „buforowe” w stosunkach polsko‑rosyjskich. Przypadek Białorusi
Buffer territories in Polish‑Russian relations: the case of Belarus

Author(s): Joachim Diec
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, International relations/trade, Security and defense, Military policy
Published by: KSIĘGARNIA AKADEMICKA Sp. z o.o.
Keywords: buffer area; buffer state; Belarus; Poland; Russia; Poland‑Russia relations; Belarus‑Poland relations; Belarus‑Russia relations

Summary/Abstract: The notion of buffer territories is understood as referring either to buffer zones (whose status is usually reflected in international documents) or to states and semi‑state subjects existing between bigger and usually antagonistic powers. Belarus has sometimes been described as a buffer country both in its pre‑sovereign version and after 1991. In several moments of Belarusian history, especially after 1918, neighboring powers tended to treat the area as a part of a bigger creation: either as a part of Russia (Soviet Russia and Germany) or as a segment of Bigger Lithuania (Poland and Lithuania). Those speculations, based on false geopolitical perceptions, turned out to be a mistake in all cases. The failure of the Belarusian People’s Republic led to the unnatural division of the nation, which resulted not only in the miserable conditions it had to overcome but in strengthening the area of potential conflict between powers as well. Today’s Republic of Belarus despite its semi‑authoritarian system and connections with the Russian Federation within the Eurasian structures provides a good example of a state which gradually works out its independent position in international relations.

  • Issue Year: 13/2016
  • Issue No: 45
  • Page Range: 255-277
  • Page Count: 23
  • Language: Polish