ETHNIC POLICY OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND AFTER 1989. DETERMINANTS AND SPECIFICS

Abstract

The article is an attempt to discuss the character of the ethnic policy of the Polish state after 1989, i.e during the system transformation. The author’s analysis on the specifics and ethnic policy as a specific policy of the state begins with the scientific proper paradigm proper for political science research. The analyses concern both theoretical and practical problems including the institutions/entities that restrain them, stages, main concepts, the scope of implementation and the balance. The author concludes that ethnic policy of the Polish state which was implemented during the transformation period deserves a positive evaluation because of both its character and effectiveness. He states that Poland worked out and conducted the policy which was, on the one side, directed to form frames of the democratic state and on the other on positive solution of prob-lems that arose in the ethnic sphere. These conclusions are based on the author’s own long-term studies, numerous documents and the literature on the subject.