Wschodnie granice Europy. Casus Rosji
Journal Title: Przegląd Wschodni - Year 2015, Vol 13, Issue 52
Abstract
Many commentators on the future of Europe leave one question undefined – the future eastern borders of the territory. The following article is dedicated to shedding light on this controversial point, as practically no one is currently speaking about the eastern borders of Europe. In the Middle Ages, Europe became visibly homogenous; the Eastern Roman Empire detached itself, while Africa came under the rule of Islam. Europe owes its uniformity to the Roman Catholic Church, which managed to absorb the whole Germanic world, but only a part of the Slavic world. At the end of the 17th century, the eastern border of Europe looked as follows: the North was reigned by the Swedes and Prussia, which ruled over Finland and the Gulf of Finland. Further to the South stretched the Polish- Lithuanian Commonwealth, ruling these vast territories to varying degrees; the territories often changed hands in accordance with wars, invasions and treaties. The eastern border of Europe – without doubt – would have corresponded with the borders of three great powers: Prussia-Sweden, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, if not for two circumstances that complicated the situation: Russian conquests and the contraction of the Ottoman Empire. At the moment, if Russia gains entry into Europe, as she demands, Europe will stretch all the way to Vladivostok, as the Urals are not a genuine border. To Russia, the term “Great Power” signifies that she continues to possess the right to control swathes of European territory, but Russia does not want to participate in building Europe, only to intervene on her territory. Russian diplomacy is working to realize these goals. Russia, thus, does not possess national borders. It was born an empire, and today it stands guard over the borders of the former Soviet Union.
Authors and Affiliations
Alain Besançon
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP325498
- DOI -
- Views 76
- Downloads 0
Z dziejów harcerstwa polskiego w Republice Litewskiej 1918–1940
Prior to the First World War, the Polish scouting movement was developing as a secret association, mainly focusing on out-of-school and middle school youths. In the north-eastern parts of partitioned Polish lands occupie...
Zagadki syberyjskie ODNALEZIONY ORYGINAŁ SZTAMBUCHA CYPRIANA DUNIN-WĄSOWICZA Z LAT 1850–1857
the author writes about the fate of Cyprian Wąsowicz’s (1819–1857) recently recovered sketchbook. He was a member of the so-called “Organizacja 1848 roku” (Organization of the year 1848). this was an organization of Poli...
SKRZYŃSKI I ZALESKI Dwaj ministrowie II Rzeczypospolitej
Tarpukario Lenkija, būdama tarp Vokietijos ir Tarybų Rusijos buvo labai nepalankioje padėtyje. Po Pilsuckio „Federalizacijos” plano, pagal kurį kaimyninės Lenkijos šalys turėjo sudaryti su ja sąjungą, žlugimo, vienintelė...
Ponary – miejsce masowych straceń w okręgu wileńskim
The term “Wilno District”, (Okręg Wileński) was utilized during the Second World War to describe parts of pre-war Poland’s Wilno Voivodeship, added to Lithuania along with the city of Wilno in October 1939. Seventy-five...
Pochodzenie Fiodora Nieświckiego w świetle badań genetycznych
To date, the lineages of many royal families of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania have not been sufficiently studied. This also pertains to a number of dynasties connected to Volhynia. This includes the Zbaraski house, which...