Good Neighbourhood Treaties and Public Diplomacy: Polish Activities in Neighbouring States (2007–2014)

This chapter discusses the treaties on good neighbourhood and friendly cooperation signed by Poland and its neighbours in the 1990s, and their impact on Polish public diplomacy in those countries in the years 2007–2014. The period analysed is not accidental, because in 2007 Radosław Sikorski became the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Poland, holding that office until 2014. It was Sikorski who strongly emphasised the significance of public diplomacy and its modern tools, such as digital diplomacy. The question posed is whether the good neighbourhood treaties contributed to promoting Poland among its neighbours during the period examined. The argument is that particular provisions of the treaties facilitated public diplomacy campaigns by Poland in its neighbouring countries, as is shown through an analysis of case studies of Poland’s major public diplomacy campaigns between 2007 and 2014.