Diplomacy on the peripheries: Polish-Norwegian “special contacts” in the 1960s Cover Image

Dyplomacja na peryferiach. „Specjalne kontakty” polsko-norweskie w latach 60. XX wieku
Diplomacy on the peripheries: Polish-Norwegian “special contacts” in the 1960s

Author(s): Michał Przeperski
Subject(s): Diplomatic history, Post-War period (1950 - 1989)
Published by: Uniwersytet Gdański
Keywords: Poland; Norway; Winiewicz; Boyesen; Oder-Neisse; international relations; NATO

Summary/Abstract: “Special contacts” developed by Norway and Poland during the years 1963–1968 may serve as a unique example of peripheral diplomacy. The sense of Polish initiatives such as the Gomułka Plan consisted not only in relaxing the political tension in Europe, but also on securing the western Polish border, which was not internationally recognized by the West. Hence, initially, political contacts between Oslo and Warsaw served as a way of exercising soft pressure on NATO countries to change their stance. However, they had other interesting aspects, too, such as promotion of Polish culture in Norway. It was 1968 that marked a final date of the “special contact.” It was the anti-Semitic campaign that took place in Poland that year, rather than invasion of Czechoslovakia, that was a final reason for this ending.

  • Issue Year: 22/2018
  • Issue No: 2
  • Page Range: 168-180
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish
Toggle Accessibility Mode