Publisher: Instytut Zachodni im. Zygmunta Wojciechowskiego

Trump Presidency and Transatlantic Relations

Trump Presidency and Transatlantic Relations

Author(s): Marta Götz / Language(s): English

Keywords: Trump; USA; president; transatlantic realtions

The key question that arose following the election victory of Donald Trump concerned the future of US-European relations. Would the opinion that NATO was “obsolete” and art. 5 of the Washington Treaty on collective defense did not necessarily have to apply unconditionally, remain pure electoral rhetoric or would it set a new course for the Trump administration’s relations with Europe? Would the treatment of the European Union not as a big achievement of the Old World but as a hostile competitor of the United States define Trump’s approach to the European integration process? Will Washington’s prior commitments to Europe continue to be respected? // Another unknown was the approach to the new Washington administration that the European allies of the United States would adopt. Could they convince President Trump about the significance of the Transatlantic Alliance and its main pillar: NATO? Would the new administration and Brussels be able to establish good mutually-beneficial relations? // The above questions stand at the core of the analysis presented in this material. The authors attempted to describe Trump’s first six months in office and outline the key steps taken by the new administration towards Europe. Emphasis was placed on security and defense, associated primarily with NATO, as well as Russia and political and economic relations with the European Union. An additional topic was the fight against terrorism, which inevitably accompanies transatlantic relations.

German activity in the international arena in 2017

Aktywność Niemiec na arenie międzynarodowej w 2017 r

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Germany; international relations

In 2017, various unfavourable trends in Europe's environment intensified: the migration/refugee crisis, which although it had weakened, remained a problem, challenges for the transatlantic community related to the Donald Trump administration, Russia and the impossibility of finding some modus vivendi in relations with it, especially in the area of ​​security, the Middle East as a source of terrorism threatening the European Union, also from within. The challenge that the European Union itself faced was the question of the scale and method of its further integration; the problem was the model of the eurozone reform and maintaining the cohesion of the European project. Germany's activity in the international arena was determined by the Bundestag elections in September 2017. When proposing specific solutions that largely took into account German interests, it tried to maintain distance from controversial proposals.

On the German perception of Polish history. Three interviews

O postrzeganiu przez Niemców polskiej historii. Trzy wywiady

Author(s): Stanisław Żerko / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Germany; interviews; remembrance of history;

The noun "reconciliation", declined in all possible cases and meant to characterize good-neighborly relations between our countries, became a figure of speech with which representatives of both countries used to decorate their speeches. At the same time, we were increasingly surprised that the scale and scope of the crimes committed in Poland by the Germans during the occupation were so little known in the Federal Republic. We were concerned that in Germany the dark side of our history during World War II was so eagerly emphasized, while at the same time the accents were shifting: for a dozen or so years, in German narratives, Germans have increasingly become victims, and Poles - persuasions. Some of us, not all, see this as a deliberate German historical policy. Others believe that these are cultural changes, the sources of which are not political in nature. We are trying to find some answer as to why this is happening, and we do not want to formulate simple and hasty explanations. We asked three younger generation historians from the German-speaking area who deal with Polish issues about these issues – two Germans and one Swiss.

Reparations and compensation in relations between Poland and Germany

Reparacje i odszkodowania w stosunkach między Polską a RFN

Author(s): Stanisław Żerko / Language(s): Polish

In the summer of 2017, the debate on the issue of German war reparations returned with great force in Poland. The discussion on this topic took place in the autumn of 2004, but the temperature of the dispute that flared up after Jarosław Kaczyński's speech on 1 July 2017 is incomparably higher than during the debate thirteen years earlier. The aim of this study is to present in a brief but relatively complete way the issue of reparations and war compensation as a problem in the history of relations between Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany. The final turning point is the complex of problems related to the reunification of Germany.

Obama and Merkel – Building a Partnership German-American Relations (2009-2016). A Polish View

Obama and Merkel – Building a Partnership German-American Relations (2009-2016). A Polish View

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska / Language(s): English

Keywords: Obama; Merkel; German-American Relations

During Barack Obama's presidency, American-German relations could be called a "partnership in leadership." Although there was no shortage of disputes and irritations between Washington and Berlin, caused by the so-called wiretapping scandal or a certain assertiveness of Germany towards the expectations of the American side, it was Chancellor Merkel that President Obama called his best partner, a great leader and a person of great morality towards the end of his term in the White House. Similarly, the American president enjoyed great recognition and respect from the Germans.

Balance of 25 years of the Treaty between the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany on good neighbourhood and friendly cooperation of 17 June 1991

Bilans 25 lat Traktatu między Rzecząpospolitą Polską a Republiką Federalną Niemiec o dobrym sąsiedztwie i przyjaznej współpracy z dnia 17 czerwca 1991 r.

Author(s): Marta Balcerek-Kosiarz,Tomasz Budnikowski,Radosław Grodzki,Piotr Kubiak,Tomasz Morozowski,Witold Nowak,Andrzej Sakson,Marcin Tujdowski,Maria Wagińska-Marzec / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Polish-German relations

The 25th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty between the Republic of Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany on good neighbourliness and friendly cooperation encourages us to sum up its implementation in various fields: politics, economy, social issues and culture. The authors of the study also attempted to reflect on the prospects of Polish-German relations. These relations are characterized by objective asymmetry resulting from different population, territorial and economic potential as well as the place and significance of both countries in the international arena. The conclusion of the Treaty in 1991 meant a historic turn towards good neighbourly and partnership relations. However, this does not mean that despite the convergence of strategic interests, there are no contradictions of various kinds, e.g. concerning energy and climate policy, history or the legal position of national minorities.

Outward FDI Policies in Visegrad Countries

Outward FDI Policies in Visegrad Countries

Author(s): Andrea Éltető,Soňa Ferenčíková,Marta Götz,Tatiana Hlušková,Barbara Jankowska,Erich Kříž,Magdolna Sass / Language(s): English

Keywords: Visegrad Countries; V4

Visegrad Four (V4) due to the specific dependence on foreign capital have been labelled as “dependent market economies” with a comparative advantage in the assembly of goods such as cars or consumer electronics [Noelke, Vliegenthart 2009]. This project focuses on the opposite side of international capital movements as it explores the phenomenon of outward investment made by V4 indigenous firms.

Trends in the use of working time in highly developed countries at the beginning of the 21st century

Tendencje w wykorzystaniu czasu pracy w państwach wysoko rozwiniętych na początku XXI wieku

Author(s): Tomasz Budnikowski / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: working time; developed countries

The discussion on the importance of working time began with the turbulent development of capitalism in the mid-19th century. The importance of the problem is evidenced by the fact that the discussion was addressed by anti-system economists and socialists on the one hand, and by the popes of the time on the other. The accelerated technological progress that we have been experiencing for several decades has sparked a lively discussion on the role of the labor factor in the process of economic growth. The growing importance of labor-saving technologies, combined with the simultaneous popularization of information technology, as well as the increase in the price of labor, are resulting in a certain decrease in the demand for labor. Structural changes in the economy involving the movement of labor between sectors also seem to be important. This process, observed for many decades, has recently accelerated significantly.

German system of civic education. Applications for Poland

Niemiecki system kształcenia obywatelskiego. Wnioski dla Polski

Author(s): Radosław Grodzki,Piotr Kubiak / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: German civic eduation

Drawing the line between political education and indoctrination is extremely difficult in any country. In Germany, for years, the scope of education - for historical reasons - has been widely discussed at the federal and state levels. Today, the goal of political education is primarily to shape a responsible and mature citizen (mündiger Bürger), who understands the processes taking place in the modern world, is able to draw independent conclusions from the changes taking place, and above all, is ready to participate in the political life of the country.

Memory policies and discourses of memory in the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War

Polityki pamięci i dyskursy pamięci w 100-lecie wybuchu I wojny światowej

Author(s): Joanna Dobrowolska-Polak / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: memory; memory policies; discourse of memory; First World War

The year of the outbreak of World War I is considered a turning point marking the “long end” of the 19th century, marking the end of the way in which eighteenth-century Europe functioned and the style of conducting foreign policy at that time. The Great War of 1914-1918 began a century of conflicts and global divisions. For the first time, warfare polarized the world. The 100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War I has become a starting point for reflections on European historical memory and its national versions. The authors consider the perception of history in European states, its relativization, and the reinterpretation of the old aspirations of nation states. Are we dealing in Europe with the coexistence of complementary visions of the past, or rather with the competition of national memory policies? Can national differences have a significant impact on the process of shaping European identity and the course of current and future integration processes on the continent?

Poles and Germans towards the future of the European Union

Polacy i Niemcy wobec przyszłości Unii Europejskiej

Author(s): Marta Götz / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: future of the European Union

The presented study is devoted to the assessment of the Polish and German economic discourse on the eurozone and its future. An attempt to systematize the fundamental issues concerning the eurozone and its future on an ellipse marked by fluid extremes: from "past, certain and well-recognized issues" to "future, rather less defined categories" allowed for an initial cautious assessment of the Polish discourse in this area. This part contains a synthesis of the most important issues emerging in the economic discussion. An attempt was made to answer the question of whether a certain position on the initiatives proposed in the EU and the actions taken can be observed in Poland. In relation to the Federal Republic of Germany, the dominant threads of the German discourse on the crisis and the future of the eurozone are presented, indicating the active role of the Federal Republic of Germany in the process of shaping the future architecture of the EU and promoting the concept of conditional integration. The presented conclusions are an attempt to capture the most frequently appearing threads of discussions in the Federal Republic of Germany and Poland concerning the (post-)crisis future of the eurozone and the EU. The study was created as part of the Polish-German research project "Poles and Germans and the Future of the European Union" carried out by the Institute for Western Affairs in Poznań and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation in 2012-2013.

Polonia policy in the assessment of its performers and recipients

Polityka polonijna w ocenie jej wykonawców i adresatów

Author(s): Anna Fiń,Agnieszka Legut,Witold Nowak,Michał Nowosielski,Kamila Schöll-Mazurek / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: polonia; emigration policy;

Since 2011, a process has been underway that can be called the creation of a "new" Polish diaspora policy. Unlike previous concepts, this time this policy has not been described in strategic documents, but rather has taken the form of short-term plans and specific actions. The aim of the study is to present the results of a diagnosis concerning the opinions and attitudes of the Polish diaspora and Poles living abroad towards the Polish diaspora policy. The publication contains the results of research carried out as part of the project "Polish diaspora policy in practice" financed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the Cooperation Plan with the Polish diaspora and Poles abroad in 2013. This project had two basic goals: to expand the knowledge of Poles living abroad and interested in support in the promotion of Poland and Polishness, and to provide decision-makers in the field of planning and implementing the Polish diaspora policy with knowledge about the attitudes of Poles living abroad towards the assumptions of the new Polish diaspora policy.

Europe in Barack Obama's strategy (2009-2012)

Europa w strategii Baracka Obamy (2009-2012)

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Europe; Barack Obama

During the presidency of Barack Obama, the European continent ceased to be a region of primary importance and an object of special concern in the field of security for the United States. For the American side, the main determinant of its European policy was Europe's readiness to play the role of an important player in the international arena and thus an effective partner that America needed in a world heading towards multipolarity and struggling with various problems. However, the expectations directed at the Old World were largely unfulfilled - in the American opinion, Europe remained too diverse and assertive. The balance of Barack Obama's first term in office in relations with Europe is, on the one hand, a sense of marginalization of the Old World in the global policy of the USA, and on the other - the continuing inertia of European states in relation to many challenges of the modern world, disappointing for the American administration.

Dynamics of German public opinion. Political parties position based on opinion polls and results of national parliamentary elections (2011-2012)

Dynamika niemieckiej opinii publicznej. Pozycja partii politycznych na podstawie sondaży i wyników wyborów do parlamentów krajowych (2011-2012)

Author(s): Piotr Cichocki,Piotr Kubiak / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: German public opinion; elections; political parties

The results of the surveys conducted in 2011 and 2012 showed that the main political problems in the eyes of the German public were the debt crisis (in the eurozone) and unemployment. Despite the decline in enthusiasm for the direction of economic change, trust in Angela Merkel's CDU/CSU-FDP government was growing. The beneficiaries of this trend were primarily the Christian Democratic parties, which enjoyed much greater public trust than the FDP. In 2012, A. Merkel outpaced the leaders of the opposition SPD, Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Peer Steinbrück, in the popularity rankings. The two leaders of the FDP, Guido Westerwelle and Philipp Rösler, were among the least popular politicians. Parties that had previously received less support began to achieve significant successes in state elections. The people of Baden-Württemberg and Rhineland-Palatinate strongly supported the Green Party, which was the result of a dynamic internal debate on nuclear energy. In Berlin, Saarland, Schleswig-Holstein and North Rhine-Westphalia, the Pirate Party was successful and became a new force distinguished in the polls. At the same time, however, a gradual increase in public support for the large parties: CDU/CSU and SPD became noticeable.

The dynamics of German public opinion. The image of Poland and Poles in Germany

Dynamika niemieckiej opinii publicznej. Wizerunek Polski i Polaków w Niemczech

Author(s): Piotr Cichocki,Agata Lewandowska,Michał Nowosielski / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: German public opinion; image of Poland; image of Poles

The authors look at the problem of the image of Poland and Poles in the eyes of German society from two perspectives. First, through the prism of social perceptions of Poland as a country beyond the eastern border and Poles as neighbors. Second, by narrowing the perspective to the image of Poles living and migrating to Germany. The image of Poland and Poles in Germany emerging from the analysis of public opinion polls and press publications is ambiguous. Positive aspects of the image of Poland and Poles are present to a greater extent in the German press, where two elements of the image of Poland can be distinguished: as an important European actor and as a country with a dynamically developing economy. At the same time, the results of surveys show that positive changes in discourse do not necessarily translate into the attitudes of Germans.

The United States in the face of regional crises - the transatlantic aspect

Stany Zjednoczone wobec kryzysów regionalnych – aspekt transatlantycki

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: US foreign policy; international relations

For several decades, the United States has been playing the role of the "world policeman," intervening in various regions of the globe and in matters that often have no direct connection with American vital interests. Barack Obama's administration has also been confronted with various regional conflicts: the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Middle East dispute, and the "Arab Spring." Iraq and Afghanistan are a direct legacy of the "era" of G. W. Bush, while the Israeli-Palestinian conflict was a kind of "Gordian knot" that had been waiting to be resolved for decades. In turn, the outbreak of social discontent in the Arab countries of Africa and the Middle East at the beginning of 2011 turned out to be a challenge with an enormous impact and consequences that are difficult to assess unequivocally. In any case, these were events that put Washington in a difficult situation, forcing it to act somewhat against its will. What was the nature of American policy in relation to the political crises and regional conflicts that the Obama administration had to deal with? Were the measures taken appropriate and effective? Did they serve to rebuild America's position and importance in the world, and especially to strengthen relations within the transatlantic community? These are the main questions that this work attempts to answer. It analyzes and balances American policy, assuming that the United States is an indispensable factor in global security and, willingly or unwillingly, continues to play the role of the "world policeman" in the public consciousness.

Germany's great-power aspirations in 21st century Europe: realities and perspectives (Research Report)

Mocarstwowe aspiracje Niemiec w Europie XXI wieku: realia i perspektywy (Raport z badań)

Author(s): Bogdan Koszel / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: Germany;

Germany is at the stage of redefining its place in Europe and the world in the complex conditions of the 21st century. It is attempting to strengthen its international position in both transatlantic relations and in the European Union. However, this can be described as competition in the process of globalization, not striving for hegemony. At the same time, the pro-European trend in its foreign policy is being observed in Germany. Among the political elites of the Federal Republic of Germany, slogans are being used to return to the German Sonderweg and to resuscitate the so-called German question. There is an increasing openness in writing about the "de-Europeanization" (De-Europäisierung) of Germany and the "domestication" (Domestizierung) of German policy. Currently, elements of continuity and cautious changes prevail in German policy. The failure of the Constitution for Europe cherished by Germany and efforts to obtain a permanent seat on the UN Security Council have shown that Germany had much less capacity to act than it was generally credited with. A. Merkel's government is trying to sort out the situation, which is not so easy, considering the coalition nature of the government and sometimes - as the eurozone crisis has shown - troublesome cooperation with the FDP, and previously with the SPD. Social pacifism is still strong in the country, there is no question of universal agreement on the goals, role and place of the Federal Republic of Germany in the new international order.

The Future of NATO - difficult decisions

Przyszłość NATO - trudne decyzje

Author(s): Jadwiga Kiwerska / Language(s): Polish

Keywords: NATO; OTAN

Is NATO, which has been in existence for over 60 years, still the fundamental political and military structure guaranteeing security and stability in Europe - as it has been for decades? To what extent should the Pact be an element and factor of security on a global scale - what do the challenges of today require? Can NATO still operate effectively and be a credible alliance in the current conditions and in the face of new threats? These are some of the questions that should be asked before we begin to develop a new strategic doctrine for the Alliance. This, in turn, must resolve several fundamental issues that are important for making NATO more dynamic and getting it out of a critical juncture.

Reparations and compensation in relations between Poland and Germany

Reparations and compensation in relations between Poland and Germany

Author(s): Stanisław Żerko / Language(s): English

Keywords: German-Polish relations; Reparations WW II;

The aim of this study is to provide a brief but fairly comprehensive account of the reparations issue and war damages viewed as a problem in the history of relations between Poland and the Federal Republic of Germany5. The present overview ends with issues related to the unification of Germany.

On the Perception of Polish History by Germans. Three Interviews

Über die Wahrnehmung der polnischen Geschichte durch die Deutschen. Drei Interviews

Author(s): Jochen Böhler,Daniel Brewing,Stephan Guth / Language(s): German

Keywords: Polish history; German-Polish relations;

The history of mutual bilateral relations has almost always been one of the most controversial issues in German-Polish relations. The same can be said about the interpretation of the historical processes taking place in the neighboring country, about the perception of Polish history on the one hand and about the Polish reading of German history on the other. The abandonment of previous stereotypical ways of presenting things and the departure from outdated patterns only took place in the course of a lengthy process, which was, however, increasingly stimulated over time by increasingly lively contacts and concrete debates on the subject.