Polska i jej miejsce w Europie. Europa jako konstrukt dyskursywny
Poland and its place in Europe. Europe as a discursive construct

Summary/Abstract: The author analyzes images of Europe in the press discourse of the „Guardian”, against the background of Poland’s accession to the European Union. In an analysis of 44 press articles published between 2002 and 2006, the author shows that Europe and its image in the press is a dynamic discourse construct. The date of May 1, 2004 (the date of the accession) appears to be a turning point in perceiving and construing Poland and hence also Europe by the British newspaper. The author shows how the evaluative categories of Eastern and Western Europe (the latter being equivalent to the European Union) polarize European countries. Seen from the perspective of an EU applicant country, Europe is construed in terms of various metaphors. The article focuses on four most conspicuous of those, namely Europe as a stronghold, Europe as an elite club, a dominant Europe and a Europe of exclusion. The author concludes that it is difficult to talk about one monolithic image of Europe, constructed from one perspective. This is visible, for example, in the fact that although the discursive distance between Poland and Europe has shortened after Polish accession to the EU, Europe’s attitude towards Poland is still skeptical and distrustful. Hence, one rather deals with several images of Europe, which make up its dynamic image in discourse.

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