This book studies how the pursuit of becoming an established 'insider' in an international community shapes a state's foreign policy. It looks at Poland's response to three international crises that called for joint action of the EU and its members: the Iraq war of 2003, the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, and the Ukraine crisis beginning in 2013. The book develops the concept of strategic culture as a collection of historically informed narratives that guide a state's pursuit of ontological security, a basic sense of certainty about the state's role and place in the international environment. Building on this concept the author argues that Poland's behavior reflects the awareness of its stigma as a 'late arrival' in the EU, and more generally in the'West' as an identity community. The study thus provides insight into how stigmatization and struggle for recognition shape international dynamics.

Provides Polish foreign policy analysis from an expert in the area Rich in fascinating empirical material Speaks to critical theory, using the concepts of strategic culture and ontological security

Autorentext

Maria "Molly" Krasnod bska is a Polish diplomat in Reykjavik, Iceland, and she holds a PhD from the Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) at the University of Cambridge, UK.

Klappentext

This book studies how the pursuit of becoming an established insider in an international community shapes a state s foreign policy. It looks at Poland s response to three international crises that called for joint action of the EU and its members: the Iraq war of 2003, the Russo-Georgian war of 2008, and the Ukraine crisis beginning in 2013. The book develops the concept of strategic culture as a collection of historically informed narratives that guide a state s pursuit of ontological security, a basic sense of certainty about the state s role and place in the international environment. Building on this concept the author argues that Poland s behavior reflects the awareness of its stigma as a late arrival in the EU, and more generally in the West as an identity community. The study thus provides insight into how stigmatization and struggle for recognition shape international dynamics.

Inhalt

CHAPTER 1: Introduction.- CHAPTER 2 From Socialization to Stigmatization: New Members in Western Institutions.- CHAPTER 3: Strategic Culture and the Quest for Ontological Security.- CHAPTER 4: Poland's Strategic Culture: East and West.- CHAPTER 5: Becoming 'New Europe': The Iraq Crisis and the Construction of Poland's 'Latecomer' Stigma.- CHAPTER 6: A Little War the World Forgot: Poland's Initiative during the Russo-Georgian War.- CHAPTER 7: Managing the Ukraine Crisis: A Triumph of Poland's EU Politics?.- CHAPTER 8: Conclusion