Poles, Polonia, and the Quest for Liberty (Routledge Contemporary Russia and Eastern Europe Series)

Poles, Polonia, and the Quest for Liberty provides a scholarly analysis of how Poles and Polish-Americans have cherished liberty and democracy in Poland and struggled to achieve those ideals across the centuries.

Experts in the field tackle a series of topics that illuminate major themes in the history of a nation and a state that once again is playing an increasingly important role on the international stage. Chapters cover a wide historical period – from the Middle Ages to recent years – and address several subject areas, including international relations, security studies, political theory, area studies, and diplomatic and cultural history. The contributors deal with fifteenth-century conciliarism and contextual scrutiny of the varied meanings of liberty in the Constitution of May 3, 1791. Others examine various nineteenth, twentieth, and twenty-first century diplomatic, financial, military, and cultural efforts in support of, and in one case, contrary to, Polish freedom and independence.

Exploring divisive issues that challenged and continue to challenge policy-makers and the average person on both sides of the Atlantic, this timely book examines increasingly relevant topics concerning democracy and Poland. It will be of interest to those studying the history and politics of Eastern Europe.

John S. Micgiel has served as Director of the Institute on East Central Europe, Associate Director of the Harriman Institute, Executive Director of the Institute for the Study of Europe, and Adjunct Professor of International and Public Affairs―all at Columbia University, USA. He was the spiritus movens of the campaign to raise funds for the Chair in Polish Studies at Columbia. He now teaches at the University of Warsaw, Poland.