Summary: | 碩士 === 淡江大學 === 俄羅斯研究所碩士班 === 95 === The history of Polish-Russian relations was marked by rivalry, conquest and power play.
Generally, Russia’s policy towards Poland revolved on Tsarist expansionism, Soviet security concerns, advancement of socialism; while that of Poland towards Russia centered on the dream of revival of an old empire or Polish supremacy among the Slavic nations.
The author investigates primarily the inter-war period, because it precipitated Poland’s re-emergence as independent state in the 20th century, her downfall 20 years later and subordination to the USSR. The Polish-Soviet interwar relations include the following important issues:
a) Background
- Polish-Lithuanian Empire/ Rise of Muscovy
- The Partitions of Poland / Tsarist Empire
- WWI aftermath/ 1920 Polish-Soviet War
b) Independent Poland / Communist Soviet Union
- Poland foreign policy
- Soviet diplomacy and Soviet-German collaboration
c) WWII
- Eastern Poland under Soviet occupation
- Western, Polish, Soviet diplomatic overture
- Polish communists and war development
- Towards a Soviet Satellite
The thesis presents in detail the Polish-Soviet relations on the eve, during and the aftermath of WWII, analyzing the circumstances and revealing the motives of the diplomatic moves of both countries and to a certain extent the position of Poland’s Western allies. The mechanism of Soviet hegemony’s encroachments on Poland is also given due attention.
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