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The College of Wooster

Publication Date

Spring 2023

Program Name

Switzerland: International Studies and Multilateral Diplomacy

Abstract

Poland’s geopolitical role has enhanced since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. As such, Poland’s ambitions have increasingly important implications for regional, European, and global security. The paper attempts to address this phenomenon by posing the following research question: how does Poland pursue its interests in the Ukraine War? Employing qualitative methods on data collected from three formal interviews, one virtual interview, one informal interview, four statements from Poland’s leaders, and a variety of secondary sources, the study aims to answer this question modeling Gyula Csurgai’s (2019) geopolitical analysis framework. The research question is addressed in two ways. First, the author examines why it is in Poland’s interests to support Ukraine in the conflict using seven geopolitical factors. Second, this paper identifies four of Poland’s strategic objectives. In doing so, it highlights how geopolitical factors influence Polish strategy and how Poland pursues its geopolitical goals. Overall, the study finds that Poland’s motivations in the conflict are multidimensional; additionally, that the Ukraine War presents both a threat and an opportunity for Polish ambitions.

Disciplines

Eastern European Studies | European Languages and Societies | International Relations | Military History | Military, War, and Peace | Peace and Conflict Studies

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