The end of the communist era in Poland and the desire to join the democratic world were associated not only with the possibility of free elections, but also provided the opportunity to create its own foreign policy – with an emphasis on securing its sovereignty.
Despite the collapse of the USSR, there was still Russia to the east, as it appears today, resenting the loss of influence in a region that had depended on it for years. For the young democracies, countries that had a right to feel insecure in the new situation and knew the dangers that existed, it was also extremely important to practically join the Western world by co-founding international organizations – such as the peace-providing North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). The desire to join NATO both in Polish society and among the political class was very strong. This goal was eventually achieved, to universal approval and with great relief. Unfortunately, as is often the case, the achieved goal after some time seems to be taken for granted, seems to lose its importance, ceases to be appreciated, and is sometimes regarded – paradoxically – as unnecessary ballast just because it fulfills its role well. Based on the research conducted for this article, it can be seen that this very syndrome has affected NATO when it comes to the way the organization is perceived in Poland. For years after the collapse of the USSR, Polish society became accustomed to the absence of a threat. It is only natural that we get used to comfort very quickly, treating it as a natural state. However, it seems that we have forgotten what tools provide us with this comfort of non-threat. Our neighbor to the east, Vladimir Putin’s Russia, with its possessive policies and attack on Ukraine, very quickly reminded us of this – as reflected in the current perception of NATO by Poles.
