The Neoslavonic Negotiations between Russians and Poles: Between Rivalry and Cooperation The Neoslavonic Negotiations between Russians and Poles: Between Rivalry and Cooperation
Abstract
This paper aims to provide an interpretation of participation and functioning of the Russian and the Polish national representatives within the conception of redefined Slavonic solidarity in the early 20th century. The main problematic was the question of motivation of both traditionally nationally-oriented Slavonic nations, whose potential cooperation was constantly checkmated owing to mutual animosity.
The first transformation in mutual perception of both sides was mainly epitomized by internal shift of the Russian empire into the parliamentary state. This political platform made understanding of the both Russian and Polish liberal circles possible and their mutual perception was thereby gradually changed from the deep-rooted hostility into political partnership.
The decisive tendency to the "slavization" of the Russian-Polish relations was caused by the failure of the parliamentary activity, which could have meant a political loss for the Polish side. Therefore it is important not to consider the suddenly proclaimed support for the idea of the neoslavonic cooperation a refusal of the policy pursuing national interests but rather an adaptation to the given circumstances: a flexible change of the tactic in order to compensate its failed national policy.Despite the forthcoming slavonic euphory, the participation of the Russian and the Polish representatives in neoslavonic negotiations in St Petersburg and Prague was characterized by risky balancing between loyalty to the opponents and preservation of national trust.
The analysis of particular speeches supports the thesis about the thin line between the will to cooperate and the tendency to delimitate itself in a traditional way.