10 Post-traumatic sovereignty strikes back
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Jarosław Kuisz
Abstract
This chapter focuses on Poland’s membership of the European Union and the way it has been recast by Law and Justice. In October 2021 Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki publicly speculated about the European Commission starting a “third world war.” Not long afterwards, the pro-government weekly Sieci reported on a supposed EU plot for a new partitioning of Poland. For many in the party, Polexit remains an important goal. Jarosław Kaczyński, however, has been quite inconsistent on the subject of Europe. The Brexit referendum disappointed him, because he wanted Britain to remain a Polish ally within the EU. He has argued that Europe should be a superpower and “a real actor in international politics.” Nonetheless, he remains wedded to the idea of the nation state as the primary instrument for protecting Poland’s interests. Ultimately, despite much posturing and serious diplomatic efforts, Law and Justice has failed to exert much influence in foreign affairs.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on Poland’s membership of the European Union and the way it has been recast by Law and Justice. In October 2021 Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki publicly speculated about the European Commission starting a “third world war.” Not long afterwards, the pro-government weekly Sieci reported on a supposed EU plot for a new partitioning of Poland. For many in the party, Polexit remains an important goal. Jarosław Kaczyński, however, has been quite inconsistent on the subject of Europe. The Brexit referendum disappointed him, because he wanted Britain to remain a Polish ally within the EU. He has argued that Europe should be a superpower and “a real actor in international politics.” Nonetheless, he remains wedded to the idea of the nation state as the primary instrument for protecting Poland’s interests. Ultimately, despite much posturing and serious diplomatic efforts, Law and Justice has failed to exert much influence in foreign affairs.
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
- Epigraph to Part I 20
- 1 Breakthrough? The 2015 elections 21
- 2 The tsunami of populism 46
- 3 True leaders of the nation 77
- 4 Toothless liberals? The current state of democratic opposition 99
- Introduction to Part II 126
- 5 The Polish–Jewish relationship debate 131
- 6 The economic transformation debate 146
- 7 The never- ending de-communisation debate 161
- Introduction to Part III 180
- 8 Sources of post- traumatic sovereignty 187
- 9 Beyond the occupation mentality 206
- 10 Post-traumatic sovereignty strikes back 231
- 11 A kidnapped West in the European Union 243
- Conclusion 261
- Notes 270
- Acknowledgements 346
- Index 349
Chapters in this book
- Front Matter i
- Contents v
- Preface vii
- Introduction 1
- Epigraph to Part I 20
- 1 Breakthrough? The 2015 elections 21
- 2 The tsunami of populism 46
- 3 True leaders of the nation 77
- 4 Toothless liberals? The current state of democratic opposition 99
- Introduction to Part II 126
- 5 The Polish–Jewish relationship debate 131
- 6 The economic transformation debate 146
- 7 The never- ending de-communisation debate 161
- Introduction to Part III 180
- 8 Sources of post- traumatic sovereignty 187
- 9 Beyond the occupation mentality 206
- 10 Post-traumatic sovereignty strikes back 231
- 11 A kidnapped West in the European Union 243
- Conclusion 261
- Notes 270
- Acknowledgements 346
- Index 349
