Polacy w krajach bałtyckich a polityka państwa polskiego. Refleksje i konkluzje po doświadczeniach minionego trzydziestolecia

ENSince 1989, the priority of Polish foreign policy has included the task of cooperating with and supporting Polish communities abroad. The assumption of power in Poland by representatives of the broadly understood Solidarity movement created a political situation in which the presence of Poles beyond the eastern border became a public issue. This situation was reflected in the treaty provisions with countries that emerged after the collapse ofthe Soviet Union. Considering the size and location of these communities, the main focus of Polish aid efforts was directed towards Polish communities in Lithuania, with lesser attention given to Latvia and Estonia. According to the author, two significant elements were overlooked in the aid efforts: the legacy of Soviet communism and the russification of Polish communities. Despite the passage of 35 years, there is still no cohesive and long-term policy from the Polish state towards the Polish diaspora and Poles living abroad. There is a lack of coordination regarding the allocated funds, and no historical knowledge about how much support was granted, to whom, and for what purpose. Additionally, there are no analyses of the effectiveness of the aid initiatives that were implemented. A key demand is to precisely define goals that are important from the perspective of Polish foreign policy and ensure that the actions of beneficiaries align with Poland's national interests. The new geopolitical situation created by Russia's aggression against Ukraine also necessitates consideration in cooperation programs with Poles across the eastern border. Addressing Russian propaganda should be a crucial condition for granting funds, especially for Polish media in the East. Keywords: Politics, history, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Baltic States, ethnicity.