POL 2 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Mikhail Gorbachev, Parliamentary System, Polish Round Table Agreement
Document Summary
Comparing democratic transition of poland vs. russia. Since collapse of communism, these countries" paths have diverged. Poland and russia are at odds over this crisis. Ukraine, historically, has never been independent until post-cold war. Ukrainians in the east are more affiliated with russia, whereas western. Ukrainians identify with europe and poland in particular. Since collapse of communism, many western ukrainians have been going to poland to work. Poland has been the strongest voice in the eu advocating for deeper ties with ukraine (economically, politically) Poland invaded in 1939 by germany and then by ussr in wwii. Poland had enormous casualties in wwii (5 million died) Cut it off economically from western europe. As a result, in 1989 at the end of the cold war, poland"s standard of living was. 75% lower than the rest of western europe. Upon the result of the ussr, poland started a very aggressive campaign to join.
