Chapter 45: Political Elites and the European Union, ed. Katarzyna Grzybowska-Walecka, Simona Guerra, Fernando Casal Bertoa, Oxford Handbook of Polish Politics, OUP, Pages 867–889
Abstract: This chapter traces the evolution of the Polish political elite’s discourse on European integration across the first three decades of the country’s democratic politics, a period of tectonic socio-political shifts both domestically and for the European Union (EU). The analysis focuses on how key figures of Polish politics framed European integration during different periods: before joining the EU, throughout the membership negotiation process, and after the accession, particularly in response to the various crises faced by the Union. The central themes of Polish elites’ discourse on the EU are explored through a qualitative analysis of prime ministers’ parliamentary speeches, complemented by the examination of key national debates on EU-related issues. A longer view of these discourses reveals a significant evolution of the Polish political elite framing of European integration from its initial consensus to the more recent polarization, with some overlaps between the blocs. The recurring theme of prosperity is paired with differing formulations of solidarity and democracy, deployed to either claim European belonging or assert national interest and identity.
Keywords: political elites, European integration, European Union, EU membership, identity, political discourse
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