Bruno DRWESKI
Executive summary: This paper discusses the unique geocultural and identity bases of the Polish nation, and outlines their evolution from the decadence of “old Poland” in the 17th century to the present period, which opened at the end of the Soviet period (1989) and followed by Poland’s entry into NATO (1999) and the European Union (2004). The current period is marked by the new Asian and Eurasian development dynamics giving new importance to the so-called “median” Europe – and Poland in particular –, historically regarded as “peripheral” and now becoming a “pivotal” region, intermediate between East and West on a major route of communication. This creates new and crucial opportunities and challenges for Poland, although many old cleavages and reflexes remain persistent and strongly rooted. Germany or Russia? Euro-Atlanticism or Eurasia? Independence or looking for a great protector? A “geopolitical” or “socio-economic” vision of national interests? “Realism” or “ideo-logy”? Poland is now at a crossroads.
Keywords: Poland, Warsaw, Middle Europe, Western Europe, Eurasia, Russia, Geostrategy, Defensive Geopolitics, Dynamic Geonomy, Nation, Identity, Elites, Alliances, Realism, Independence, NATO, European Union (EU), Soviet Union (USSR), Periphery, Development, Silk Roads, Intermarium. 1. Historian, Politologist, HDR lecturer (ability to direct research) at the National Institute of Languages and Oriental Civilizations (INALCO) in Paris, and member of the Scientific Council of the Academy of Geopolitics of Paris (AGP). Geopolitics and national geostrategic projection No 69 • September 2025 52Geopolitics and national projection .
Abstract: This article discusses the unique geocultural and identity foundations of the Polish nation, and traces their evolution in broad outline from the decadence of “old Poland” in the 17th century to the current period, which started at the end of the Soviet period (1989) and was followed with Poland’s entry into NATO (1999) and then in the European Union (2004). The current period is marked by new Asian and Eurasian development dynamics giving new importance to so-called “median Europe” (or Middle Europe, or East-Central Europe) – Poland in particular –, a region historically considered “peripheral” which became a “pivot” region, intermediate between East and West on a major communication route. This position creates new and crucial strategic opportunities and challenges for Poland, although many old divisions and reflexes remain persistent and strongly anchored. Germany or Russia? Euro-Atlanticism or Eurasia? Independence or search for a great protector? “Geopolitical” or “socio-economic” vision of Polish national interests? “Realism” or ideology? Poland is today at a crossroads.
Keywords: Poland, Warsaw, Median Europe (East-Central Europe), Western Europe, Eurasia, Russia, Geostrategy, Defensive Geopolitics, Dynamic Geo-economics, Nation, Identity, Elites, Alliances, Realism, Independence, NATO, European Union (EU), Soviet Union (USSR), Periphery, Development, New Silk Road (Belt and Road Initiative), Intermarium.
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