Poland's role in the development of an 'Eastern Dimension' of the European Union

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• List of Abbreviations
• List of figures
• List of charts
• Appendix
• Abstract
• 1. Introduction
  • 1.1. The 'Eastern Dimension' of the European Union
  • 1.2. Problem
  • 1.3. Structure
• 2. Explaining Poland's role with theoretical concepts
  • 2.1. Intergovernmentalism
  • 2.2. Supranationalism
  • 2.3. Intergovernmentalism vs. Supranationalism
• 3. Poland's foreign policy after 1989
  • 3.1. Principles of Poland's foreign policy
  • 3.2. Poland's Eastern Policy
  • 3.3. Eastern policy and regional cooperations
• 4. Poland and its Eastern neighbours
  • 4.1. Ukraine
    • 4.1.1. 1991 to 1994: Polite declarations and mutual commitments
    • 4.1.2. 1994 to 1998: Poland's integration in the Western structures
    • 4.1.3. 1998 to 2004: Poland's way in the EU
    • 4.1.4. From 2004: The 'Orange Revolution' and beyond
  • 4.2. Belarus
    • 4.2.1. 1991 to 1994: Belarus' decline under independence
    • 4.2.2. 1994 to 1996: The begin of Aleksander Lukashenko's presidency
    • 4.2.3. 1996 to 2001: International isolation
    • 4.2.4. From 2001: Belarus as the last dictatorship in Europe
  • 4.3. Russia
    • 4.3.1. 1989 to 1994: Poland's Russia-centered policy
    • 4.3.2. 1994 to 1999: Russian vs. Polish interests
    • 4.3.3. 1999 to 2004: Slight normalisation of the relations
    • 4.3.4. From 2004: Poland as a member of the EU
• 5. Poland and European foreign policy
  • 5.1. From an Eastern policy to a 'Wider Europe'
    • 5.1.1. Poland's contribution to the European Neighbourhood Policy
    • 5.1.2. 'Eastern Dimension' vs. ENP: similarities and differences
    • 5.1.3. The ENP in practice
    • 5.1.4. Countries included in the ENP
      • 5.1.4.1. Ukraine
      • 5.1.4.2. Belarus
  • 5.2. The EU and Russia
    • 5.2.1. Russia and the ENP
    • 5.2.2. Poland, Russia and the EU
  • 5.3. 'Eastern Dimension', ENP and theoretical concepts
• 6. Conclusion
• Literature and Documents

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This Master's thesis aims to analyze Poland's role in the development of an "Eastern Dimension" of the European Union. The work examines the historical context, key actors, and theoretical frameworks influencing Poland's approach to its Eastern neighbors.

• Poland's foreign policy after 1989 and its focus on the East
• The impact of EU enlargement on Poland's Eastern policy
• The relationship between the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP) and the "Eastern Dimension"
• The complexities of Poland's relations with its Eastern neighbors, specifically Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia
• The theoretical frameworks of intergovernmentalism and supranationalism in explaining Poland's role in shaping the EU's Eastern dimension

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The thesis begins by introducing the concept of the "Eastern Dimension" and outlining the research problem. Chapter 2 explores theoretical frameworks, such as intergovernmentalism and supranationalism, to analyze Poland's role in shaping EU policy towards the East. Chapter 3 provides an overview of Poland's foreign policy after 1989, including its Eastern policy and regional cooperation initiatives. Chapter 4 examines Poland's relations with its Eastern neighbors, focusing on Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, and their respective relationships with the EU. The thesis concludes by examining the broader context of the EU's Eastern policy, including the development of the ENP and its implications for Poland's role.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The thesis delves into the complex relationship between Poland and its Eastern neighbors, focusing on the development of the EU's Eastern Dimension. It explores the interplay of theoretical frameworks, foreign policy strategies, regional cooperations, and historical contexts. Key terms include the "Eastern Dimension," the European Neighborhood Policy (ENP), intergovernmentalism, supranationalism, Ukraine, Belarus, Russia, and Poland's foreign policy after 1989.