Populist Foreign Policy and its Consequences: The Case of Poland Under the Rule of The Law and Justice Party

Abstract

The rise of populism makes it necessary to study its influence on international relations. This concerns in particular the new members of the EU and NATO in Central Europe, which have witnessed a “democratic backsliding” since 2010. The analysis of Polish foreign policy under the rule of Law and Justice brings important insights into that issue. Polish authorities have critically assessed the achievements of Polish diplomacy since 1989 and Polish diplomats, have been considered to be elitist and cosmopolite. Polish foreign policy looks for enemies, rather than for partners – both at state (Russia, Germany) and non-state level (immigrant-refugee threat). Polish authorities are critical in particular towards the EU, which is considered to act in favour of Germany and France and against Poland’s sovereignty. A growing isolation of Poland is to be counterbalanced by a reliance on politically irrelevant (Hungary) or distantly remote partners (United States under Donald Trump). The foreign policy of Law and Justice is largely ineffective: relations with most European partners have deteriorated, because of its isolation and deterioration of democratic standards Poland has become more vulnerable to Russian pressure and finally since the electoral victory of Joe Biden, Poland cannot count any more on the support of the US.