Bruno Kreisky. Polityka zagraniczna i dyplomacja wobec PRL (1959-1983)
Foreign policy and diplomacy towards the Polish People’s Republic (1959-1983)

Author(s): Agnieszka Kisztelińska-Węgrzynska
Subject(s): Politics / Political Sciences, Politics, History, Political history, Social history, Recent History (1900 till today)
Published by: Wydawnictwo Uniwersytetu Łódzkiego
Keywords: Polish-Austrian diplomatic relations;Austrian-Polish crisis;foreign policy;The Chancellor of Austria;Vienna-Warsaw;Kreisky Bruno;PRL (The Polish People’s Republic)
Summary/Abstract: Bruno Kreisky’s diplomacy towards Poland in 1959–1983 was designed to benefit both sides. Acting on the conviction that he must fulfil the obligation to his country, Kreisky strengthened the position of Vienna and prepared it for the role of an international political centre, at the same time supporting its neighbour states. He pointed out that it was in Austria’s interest to see that the changes in the eastern region would only have an evolutionary character. Through contacts with Poland, Kreisky modified his approach to other Central European countries. However critical of the Polish record of democracy, he realized during his first visit in 1960 that Warsaw was sending a strong pro-West message to the other regional states. He predicted that the gradual emancipation of the peoples on the other side of the Iron Curtain could only happen with Moscow’s consent. In his view, any external interference, encouragement or pressure exerted on the citizens of the Eastern bloc urging them to start a revolutionary insurgency would be destined to fail. However, anytime people did revolt against the government, like in Hungary, Czechoslovakia or Poland, Austria helped the civilian casualties. Chancellor Kreisky consistently opposed any international sanctions against the communist regimes, arguing that such measures would end up affecting ordinary citizens. The Polish communist government employed that approach in their propaganda.

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