Austria’s Role in the Development of Eastern Europe at the End of the Cold War. The Case of Poland

Austrian diplomacy during the final period of the Cold War directed its efforts to the European integration process. The Eastern states, which were sinking into crisis, were systematically losing potential and by extension, the economic commitment of their Western neighbors. Countries benefiting from the development of the Good Neighborhood Policy, including Poland, were able to participate in the construction of a new Austrian identity by promoting cultural achievements and referring to common Central European values. Against the other communist countries, Poland was evaluated positively, as it was seen as a leader and initiator of political and social change in the region. The historical research methods adopted are designed to answer the question of whether the Eastern neighboring states, limited by their economic and political system, could count on Austria to help them initiate reforms. The disparity between the democratic West and the communist East affected Vienna adversely. The assumed research thesis concerns the possibility and magnitude of Austria’s commitment to economic reforms in Poland. The Austrians recognized that the balanced development of the Eastern neighbors served the growth of the Second Republic, hence, they supported it consistently.