The Giedroyć doctrine as idée fixe and modus operandi of the Polish foreign policy towards Ukraine after 2015: Change and continuity

Abstract

The thesis in question explores the Polish foreign policy approaches towards Ukraine of the two biggest opposing parties – Law and Justice and Civic Platform – based on the principles of the Giedroyć doctrine. Despite the fact that both parties recognise the Polish-Ukrainian relations essential in Poland’s foreign policy, their approaches to its implementation differ. And in order to understand why this difference takes place, this thesis provides the analysis of the narratives of the both parties in the exposes and records of the debates. As a result of the conducted research, it has been concluded that the major reasons for different foreign policy approaches towards Ukraine depend upon the contrasting understanding of the Polish raison d’etat, the perceptions of ontological (in)security and the threat of Russian imperialism in the circumstances of drastic shifts in the international system. In particular, the value systems of the parties embedded in the perception of the raison d’etat are different. It should be noted that ontological insecurities are to the large extent shared by both parties, especially perceiving Russia as a threat to Poland’s identity and independence. Moreover, it is important to emphasise that the more unstable and unpredictable external environment of Poland is, the more support is expressed for Ukraine. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine triggered the revival of the Giedroyc doctrine principles in the rhetoric of both parties since it proved to be relevant in the contemporary circumstances as never before.