Analyzing Polish Foreign Policies From Perspective Of Nationalism

In analyzing the development of the foreign policy of a given state, the political science community has tended to view the process as rational and pragmatic and thus usually use clearly defined national interests as the point of reference. Although nationalism and national identity are always underestimated as somewhat non-rational factors, I believe that, they could be introduced into the dynamic process of analyzing foreign policy as powerful instruments. It is clear that , being the basis of nationalism, national identity, by definition, reflects the nation's relationship to "the other", that national identity is an outgrowth of contact between at least two distinct groups. Therefore, a dialectical relationship between national identity and foreign policy is constructed strongly.National identity and nationalism have significant influences on foreign policies. Though somewhat not much rational and pragmatic they were, their roles in constructing the perceptions of the outside environments by a given polity are of importance, as well as being the point of reference in the definition of so called national interests The power of nationalism is vigorous in formatting the foreign policies of a polity, but usually implicit. Furthermore, nationalism and national identity are indeed facing consistent reorganization and reconstruction in history, in particular when they encounter overturning accidents such as war and revolutions, or when they are under special pressuring environments, for instance, the process of European integration.This article reviews interactions between national identity and foreign policy in Poland. Nowadays, Poland lies at a historic juncture in defining its national identity and national interests. It, for the first time in centuries, returns to the European system represented by EU after 15 years bitterness of comprehensively institutional transformation. Though among the oldest states in Europe, Poland is today, in many ways, a new nation. It is in the nation-building process under the context of Europeanization. Historically, Poland has been featured with its mightiness of nation but weakness of state. Under the shadow of splendid civilization in ancient history and bitterness of tragedy in modern history since 18^th century, Polish nationalism is an ingrained tradition in its political thoughts, leading to a distinctive national recognition and somehow an inexplicable pattern of act in its foreign relations. Nationalism has rooted in its foreign policies, now clearly reflected even in time of newly Republic of Poland. EU eastern enlargement provides a good chance for its escaping from the shadow of history, driving its transformation from a traditional national-state into a modern European nation-state, and reconstructing its ingrained cultural nationalism into modern political nationalism. But it is destined to be a hard task and a zigzag road, in view of the heaviness of Polish history, which has expressed itself in current Polish foreign policies towards its neighbors, as well as in domestic politics of conflicts between the conservative right-wing and the progressive pro-Europe left-wing.