Conversation with Prof. Witold Modzelewski, erstwhile Deputy Minister of Finance for Taxes, president of the Institute of taxation Studies and author of publications in the series “Poland-Russia”.
I'll start a small provocative. Is the publication of a series of publications by Poland-Russia, after the start of a fresh phase of the war in Ukraine, erstwhile politics towards Russia were adopted in Poland Cancel cultureHave you seen any attacks on you?
– There were isolated examples of outrage that “you can have specified views”, even in 1 of the popular newspapers, but it is not something worth noting, and it is most likely better. possibly I'm just besides old, but I don't think it's the work of professors to flatter the tastes of politicians. Another thing is that it is from them that I frequently hear "so privately, do not repeat it, I agree with you." Let us remember that the Polish east Policy has failed, and it is even better for them to keep quiet over this coffin. The contradictions with the Ukrainian state proved so large that present it is drivers on the border in Dorohusk who defend Polish interests.
In the book and in all your publications there is thesis that the war in Ukraine is in fact a war against Europe. Could you bring her a small closer? Of course, only in part, so as not to discourage reading the book.
– Thesis is neither fresh nor exaggeratedly original. Real objectives are those that have been achieved, not those that have been declared. It is politically rational that something else is declared, and what is truly something else. These objectives are best demonstrated by the fact that we are economically retreating. 1 paper reported that 2000 restaurants were closed in Poland last year, and as of 2019 20,000, which well illustrates the state of our poverty. The goal of our degradation has been achieved. Our part of Europe is invalid. She should be the most crucial thing to us, but due to the fact that we're sometimes impenetrable, we don't know what to do with us after we've taken what's most precious. The old Europe, on the another hand, has achieved a very affirmative script so far, recognising that Russia is simply a part of Europe in a cultural-civilisation sense, which well reflected the taste of a richer social class in Russia, where there was a immense request for luxury goods from Europe that no 1 else wanted anywhere. The supply of inexpensive natural materials was an component of this arrangement. At its own request, Europe withdrew from this favourable transaction and Russia became a mostly autary, seeking economical links elsewhere. China is besides changing its concept of 1 Belt – 1 Trail, as Europe is no longer an attractive recipient of China's goods. In the interest of the US, this has been demolished and Europe's consequence remains façade: now we will build 1 country, we will advance green energy (only who will contribute to it?). In this thought there is simply a sense, i.e. the termination of the American protectorate, but it is hard to tell how it will develop.
The question of whether this road can inactive be turned around, due to the fact that clearly Russia turned its projects towards China. This can be seen from long-term investments in natural materials exports. Have we lost our chance yet?
Russia managed to push out of common space. There is simply a most dangerous script that prevents Russia from returning to a good relation with the United States. In Poland, this cannot be said, but in times of crisis in the past of the USA, it was Moscow that supported the unity of this country. The chance of real occidentalization of Russia was to attract it to Western alliances, not to repel it. As for the 1 who has the chance – past will be written by those who win, in the first place demographics, and where there is simply a demographic crisis, it is visible to the bare eye. The situation that has arisen is dangerous. For us, too.
Poles are told that in Russia Poland is seen as an enemy, as the next in line goal in Ukraine. Meanwhile, my experience, even erstwhile working with Russian media, makes me think that we are alternatively ignored there. Isn't creating specified a image aimed at keeping us ready – as before the Ukrainians – for a possible war with Russia?
– We have achieved only the annulment of the Polish problem to the east of our country. We utilized to be more crucial there. In the 17th century Poland shaped aesthetic patterns in Russia, interestingly enough, in any places our languages were not distinguished, knowing only that "we are not Germans". In russian times, Polish culture was attractive there, not as a variant of Western culture, not as an component of the complex towards the West, but as a Polish one. Just as Russia has lost its assets in Europe, it has been seen by many as an alternative, inside the Western planet alternatively than outside; so we have lost assets, mainly economical ones, which should be the basic criteria of success. On the another hand, our hostility is the hostility of the language, fortunately we do not believe in propaganda (in our own too), so no 1 takes these bogeymen, our own demons, seriously, that the Russian Empire or the russian Union is born again. We are the most successful variant of Polish statehood in history, which could last even Balcerowicz and inactive has a chance to survive. But we've crossed out, we're not important. We'll never be the most crucial due to the fact that they're more crucial than us, but I'm certain it could be better. This is about the welfare of Polish citizens. They are not necessarily to be kept in poorness and misery.
One of the authors of the prefaces to the book is Dr. Mateusz Piskorski, accused inactive in a absurd way by the authorities of the 3rd Republic of Poland of cooperating with abroad intelligence, whether Russian, Chinese and respective another countries reportedly. I realize his presence in this publication is besides any kind of demonstration from you?
– If individual seeks the fact and honors me with his presence, with the desire to exchange opinions – due to the fact that not all of us must always agree with each another – then I consider it an added value. And due to the fact that the search, especially for preaching the truth, sometimes should be paid dearly, is nothing new. However, it is the work of power to prove to us that citizens are wrong, not wrong. Let us go further: are all judgments of authority fair? I'm besides a lawyer and I know I'm not. It's just jurisdictional justice, but it's not what we imagine.
Tomasz Jankowski spoke
Think Poland, No. 1-2 (1-7.01.2024)
