What are Poland's optimal both real and virtual neighbors?

Hi there, everyone. Poland has 7 land-bound neighbors: Germany, the Czech republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Belorus, Lithuania and Russian Federation. I just have a question in regards to what countries Polish people think are their optimal neighbors, if any, and reasons why or why not and also if it was possible to move countries over (replace the current ones), if any, which would be the best for Poland and in what way. There is also a possibility of moving the neighbors around :) - sometimes it is not as much their presence as location that play a role.

Ukraine is definitely one of them Nathan. Many similarities in ethnics, culture, food, mentality. It's no wonder Poles and Ukrainians get along abroad.

Hey, that's nice to hear, PennBoy.


I agree. Food, especially. When I ate pączki in Gdansk, it reminded me my granny's. Yammi :)

I can see that.

Even though Ukraine and Poland historically had their differences (a chunk of it started by old Soviet divide and conquer propaganda dividing them), in recent years Ukrainian and Polish leaders have been improving their relations, which is nice to see.

I can say, in my personal experiences with Ukrainian Americans here in the US, they seemed to respect the fact that I am a Polish American. It could be because in general Slavic Americans like to get along here in the US. Or it could be because of other reasons. Its all good to me either way.

a Ukrainian girl once (middle 90's) worked for my family on a strawberry plantation (a small one) and she slept at our place (she was quite pretty - amazing blonde hair) - I wasn't there for the most part as I have been studying - still I remember her saying she preferred Czech TV to Polish cause she could understand it better (we live not far from the Czech border and the Czech TV reception is brilliant as they have their transmitters atop of the mountain ranges on the border - you can even have decent enough Czecz TV reception as far as Wrocław - I used to watch a lot of Czech TV before)

I would put Germany to the east and Belarus to the west

I would move Kaliningrad Region to the middle of Black see. I think it would make everyone happy, politically and touristically speaking and also weatherwise :-)

and we would have some 200 km more Baltic coast :) just next to Mazury - sounds good :)

Should belong to Poland.

Does Poland really want it? There's already access to the Baltic Coast and Kaliningrad isn't exactly an economic powerhouse.

It is traditionally Poland's domain, Prusy region is not whole without Królewiec Region, plus Russia doesn't need that enclave for economical reasons,and Russian beech-head is not needed here.

As for powerhouse:
No country or region on its own is an economic powerhouse, but wise management and time, the region is a additional land and coastline.

Maybe, but is there really any great sentiment for it? I've never heard any Pole say it should be incorporated into Poland, unlike, say, Lwów, Wilno, Grodno etc. I understand Lithuania also feels they have a claim.

That's why my solution is both elegant and would make everyone happy :-)

It is not about sentiments.


Lithuania feels that they have a claim to everything, they should respect rights of Poles in Lithuania or give the land back.

What would be the practical purpose of taking on a city like Kaliningrad when Gdansk etc is crumbling economically? Why shouldn't Russia keep it?

Gdansk is crumbling is due to many factors, Poland economy had been shrinking anyway.
There two different issues, state of economy and territorial claims.


Because Poland doesn't need a Russian beach-head at her borders.

So why take on another crumbling post-industrial city with no great links to Poland for centuries?


Tough. They won it fair and square.

Maybe I am wrong, but hasn't the Polish economy been growing since 1992 ... ?

Well, if above stated reasons do not speak for itself, why not?


Did they ? Killing millions and enslaving hundred thousand millions to built military tyrannical power, then instigating WWII and then beating Germany, is fair according to you ?

Well, if Poland ever regain Królewiec , it will be very fair too.


In what way Polish economy been growing ?

The above reasons are straightforward. Kaliningrad has no greater historical connection to Poland than Calais has to England, the economy there is poor and the residents are not Polish.


They were invaded by Germany and fought back at a cost of millions of lives.


You can only rgain something if it was actually yours.


Check the figures - it is one of the few places in Europe that is experiencing growth.

those are not the only criteria,


They asked for it.


So what ? if you play with fire you can get burnt, they are not innocent victims here.


It was,translating from XIV century relations into nowadays, yes it was.


I don't call it grow, it just the way accountants are counting, it has a little to do with real economic state of affairs.


It only means that Poland is place where you can make money, not that people and economy is in a good shape, rather that is wider open to exploitation by a global capital, (we pay you - no?),.

Sorry, I dunno how else you can interprete the figures I gave you *but* to show the economy has grown, year after year after year. You are just acting as a spoiled little kid who wants his way. Well, sorry to disappoint you ... the stats speak for themselves. Accept it.

I'm aware of a fact that you don't know.


Nope, it means that flow of monies has been growing, not necessary a good thing nowadays.


What would I possibly want eh?


not at all, statistics has no voice, phew!

well Stu - if Polish economy is growing why the amount of tax collected fell more than 10 per cent between 2008 and 2009

The second one, that the residents of Kaliningrad aren't Polish is sufficient on its own.


The map of Europe seven hundred years ago is no basis for international borders today. Otherwise Britain would have a claim over half of France.


Everyone else calls it growth. Why do you think Poland's economy isn't growing, despite the views of economists?

read above Johnny

Check out some of these:

polishmarket.com.pl/document:24593,EC+Polands+economy+to+expand+by+41+in+2011.en.html
businessweek.com/news/2011-01-28/poland-s-economic-growth-quickens-investments-lag.html
stat.gov.pl/gus/index_ENG_HTML.htm

All pretty positive.

well then why the amount of tax collected fell more than 10 per cent between 2008 and 2009 (these are official figures - but you would need to look for it in Polish i guess - but have a go at trying to search for that in English)

edit: btw you wouldn't hear about it from the mainstream media - you need to read Rafał Ziemkiewicz for example to find out

Check out those links. It's interesting what you say about tax revenues and I hadn't heard that before; though in PL at the moment there isn't that feeling of recession, vacant High Street shops, depressed property prices, general lassitude that is visible elsewhere in Europe.