Dealing with a Juggernaut: Analyzing Poland's Policy toward Russia, 1989-2009 - Tapa dura

Dealing with a Juggernaut offers an unrivalled study of Polish foreign policy towards Russia in the post-1989 period. Gorska has meticulously examined both discursive practices and policy outputs related to Polish foreign policy on Russia. No existing English-language publication has taken on the subject on such an ambitious scale. Moreover, the topic is significant in that the European Union and NATO have both been wrestling with how to manage relations with Russia. Joanna Gorska provides valuable insights and a nuanced analysis of how it can be done. -- Raymond Taras, Tulane University This book presents a well-written and systematic analysis of Poland's policy towards Russia. The study is framed conceptually and contains a wealth of empirical research, based on Polish primary and secondary sources and elite interviews with leading officials. -- Antoni Z. Kaminski, Polish Academy of Sciences Joanna Gorska's study of Polish-Russian relations could not be more timely. At a moment when it seems possible to rethink Polish-Russian relations, scholars and policy-makers alike will benefit from a better understanding of this relationship to date. Gorska's theoretically informed analysis of the debates surrounding key issues shaping Poland's position vis-a-vis Russia, such as NATO, energy and the memory of Katyn, provides a nuanced perspective on the ideational, material and domestic underpinnings of Poland's foreign policy since 1989. A real strength of the book is its wealth of primary sources, including interviews with high-ranking officials, archival and media sources. -- Gwendolyn Sasse, University of Oxford Owing to the unique approach to the subject matter, this book differs favorably from other publications dealing with Polish-Russian relations. The author poses her questions skillfully, avoiding partiality or emotional tone, which are typical for Polish studies of Russian issues. She bases her analysis on substantial theoretical foundations. The author also makes an excellent reconstruction of the feelings at the Polish political stage and shows the complexity of the political discourse. She based her claims on richly documented opinions of other researchers as well as on many sources and archived materials, original documents and official statementsss -- Stanislaw Bielen, Warsaw University Owing to the unique approach to the subject matter, this book differs favorably from other publications dealing with Polish-Russian relations. The author poses her questions skillfully, avoiding partiality or emotional tone, which are typical for Polish studies of Russian issues. She bases her analysis on substantial theoretical foundations. The author also makes an excellent reconstruction of the feelings at the Polish political stage and shows the complexity of the political discourse. She based her claims on richly documented opinions of other researchers as well as on many sources and archived materials, original documents and official statements -- Stanislaw Bielen, Warsaw University Polish-Russian relations have been a significant aspect of post-Cold War international politics. Gorska (risk management consultant, Control Risks, UK) addresses this intricate relationship between a small power and its erstwhile superpower neighbor in terms of four subjects that have played out during two crucial decades, 1989-2009: Soviet/Russian troop withdrawal from Poland, Poland's accession to NATO, Poland's energy policy in relation to Russia, and the Katyn Forest massacre by the Soviets in 1940. Addressing these issues through a dichotomy of cooperative and noncooperative Polish policy toward Russia, Gorska concludes that while discourse in domestic politics was characterized by noncooperative rhetoric, actual policy toward Russia was characterized by a significant degree of cooperative behavior and accommodation of Russian preferences. To explain the dichotomy, Gorska emphasizes three variables: identity-based conceptions of Russia, the relative power positions of Poland and Russia, and the policy preferences of major actors in Polish domestic politics. Gorska's study is strongly recommended, particularly because of her extensive use of Polish media and documentary sources as well as interviews with Polish policy makers. Summing Up: Highly recommended. * CHOICE * Relevant and recommended for readers interested in Polish foreign policy and the geopolitics of Central and Eastern Europe, as well as Polish-Russian relations. It analyses well the processes of decision making, showing in detail the context of the bilateral relationship. * Europe-Asia Studies *

Joanna A. Gorska's Dealing with a Juggernaut: Analyzing Poland's Policy towards Russia, 1989-2009 is the first substantial study of Poland's foreign policy interaction with its more powerful eastern neighbor, Russia. This book, contrary to other mainstream analyses, provides empirical evidence arguing that Poland pursued a cooperative policy towards its eastern neighbor and that this policy was shaped by material power considerations rather than identity-related factors. Dealing with a Juggernaut challenges established interpretations of Poland's Russia policy and adds to the literature on Polish foreign policy, Polish-Russian relations, and regional cooperation.