Poland

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This article is about the country Poland. For other meanings, see Poland (disambiguation)

The Republic of Poland is a country in Central Europe, bordering Germany to the west, the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south, Ukraine and Belarus to the east, and Lithuania and Russia (via the Kaliningrad Oblast exclave) to its north, as well as the Baltic Sea. Its location and accessible terrain has meant that the land has seen many wars fought over it and its borders have shifted considerably over the centuries.

Rzeczpospolita Polska


(In Detail)

National motto: Honor i Ojczyzna (Polish: Honour and Homeland)

Largest City

Aleksander Kwasniewski

Prime minister

Leszek Miller

Area
- Total
- % water

Ranked 68th
312,685 km²
2.6%

Population
- Total (2000)
- Density

Ranked 30th
38,633,912
123.5/km²

Independence
- Date

Regained
November 11, 1918

Zloty (PLN)

UTC +1

.PL

Table of contents

1 Name

2 History

6 Economy

8 Culture

9 International rankings

10 Miscellaneous topics

11 External Links

Name

The oficial name in Polish language is "Rzeczpospolita Polska".

"Rzeczpospolita" is the exact translation from latin res publica (republic): "rzecz" -- thing, matter, concern, affair, "pospolita" -- common, i.e., "common matter", "common thing". "Common" is as in House of Commons vs. House of Lords; pospolstwo -- common people.

The name of the country "Polska" and the name of the nationality, Poles, come from the Polanes tribe who established the Polish state in the 10th century (Greater Poland). Origin of their name is unknown. It may be derived from the word pole=a field, or it may mean the heroes, or it may be derived from the tribal name Goplanie - people living around Goplo lake - the cradle of Poland mentioned as Glopeani having 400 strongholds in ca. 845 (Bavarian Geographer).

See: Wiktionary: name 'Poland' translated into other languages

History

Main article: History of Poland

Poland is an ancient nation that was conceived around the middle of the 10th century. Its golden age occurred in the 16th century when it was united with Lithuania in Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The citizens of Poland were proud of their ancient freedoms and parliamentary system, though only privilaged one enjoyed them. Since that times Poles adhere to freedom, that is the value that is the most important for them. Poles often call themselves Nation of the free people. During the following century, the strengthening of the gentry and internal disorders weakened the nation, leading to three partitions of Poland between Russia, Prussia, and Austria in 1772, 1793 and 1795 that completely dissolved Poland. Poles resented their shrinking freedom and organised numerous attempt to rebel against tyrants.

During the 19th century most of Poland was ruled by the Russian tsar, but it regained its independence in November 1918 as the Second Polish Republic. This state lasted until 1939 when it was overrun by Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in the start of World War II, during which Poland suffered greatly, see General Government. Among all nations in the war, Poland lost the highest percentage of citizens. Towards the end of the war, the Soviet Union turned from liberators to occupiers and Poland became a Soviet satellite state after the war. Poland border were shifted westward, eastern border to the Curzon line and western border to Oder-Neisse line. After the shift Poland was smaller by 76 000 km sq or 20% of pre-war size. Millions of Polish people were dispossessed westwards into territory previously held by late Nazi Germany, from which similar number of Germans were expulsed.

The shifting of whole Poland was accompanied by shifting the entire population, so at the end of the process, populations fit to the borders.

Labour turmoil in 1980 led to the formation of the independent trade union "Solidarity" that over time became a political force, slowly ending the dominance of the Communist Party, and by 1989 had swept parliamentary elections and eventually the presidency. A shock therapy program during the early 1990s enabled the country to transform its economy into one of the most robust (according to the criteria of neoliberal economics) in Central Europe, with official unemployment rates at about 20% during the first decade of the 21st century. Despite the regression in levels of social and economic human rights standards, there were some improvements in other human rights standards, and following a massive advertising campaign by the government in favour of joining the European Union, Polish voters chose yes in a referendum in June 2003. Poland will officially join the European Union on 1 May 2004. Poland joined the NATO alliance in 1999.

Politics

Main article: Politics of Poland

Polish government structure consists of a Council of Ministers led by a prime minister. This cabinet is appointed by the president on a proposal by the prime minster, typically from a majority coalition in the bicameral legislature's lower house. The president, elected by popular vote every 5 years, is head of state.

The parliament, the National Assembly or Zgromadzenie Narodowe, consisting of 460 members of the Sejm (lower house) and 100 members of the Senate (Senat), is elected by a majority vote on a provincial basis to serve four-year terms. The current constitution dates from 1997, and stipulates that with the exception of two guaranteed seats for small ethnic parties, only political parties receiving at least 5% of the total vote can enter parliament.

The judicial branch plays a minor role in decision making and its major institutions are the Supreme Court (Sad Najwyzszy) whose judges are appointed by the president on the recommendation of the National Council of the Judiciary for an indefinite period, and the Constitutional Tribunal (Trybunal Konstytucyjny), where judges are chosen by the Sejm for nine-year terms.

Voivodships

Main article: Voivodships of Poland

Poland is divided into 16 administrative regions known as voivodships (województwa, singular - województwo):

Greater Poland Voivodship (Wielkopolskie)
Kujavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie)
Lesser Poland Voivodship (Malopolskie)
Lodz Voivodship (Lodzkie)
Lower Silesian Voivodship (Dolnoslaskie)
Lublin Voivodship (Lubelskie)
Lubusz Voivodship (Lubuskie)
Masovian Voivodship (Mazowieckie)
Opole Voivodship (Opolskie)
Subcarpathian Voivodship (Podkarpackie)
Podlasie Voivodship (Podlaskie)
Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie)
Swietokrzyskie Voivodship (Swietokrzyskie)
Silesian Voivodship (Slaskie)
Warmian-Masurian Voivodship (Warminsko-Mazurskie)
West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie)

Geography

Main article: Geography of Poland

The Polish landscape consists almost entirely of the lowlands of the North European Plain at an average height of 173 m, though the Carpathian Mountains (including the Tatra mountains) and the Sudeten with its part Karkonosze form the southern border, where one also finds Poland's highest point, the Rysy, at 2,499 m. The plains are crossed by several large rivers, such as the Vistula (Wisla), the Odra, the Warta or the (Western) Bug. Poland also contains over 9,300 lakes, predominantly in the north of the country.

The Polish climate is temperate with cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters with frequent precipitation and mild summers with frequent showers and thundershowers.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Poland

Poland has steadfastly pursued a policy of liberalising the economy and today stands out as one of the most successful and open transition from communism to market economy. However, slow progress in recent few years, combined with other factors, like birth peak 20 years ago, put recently economy at the edge of recession, with about 18% unemployment and increasing wealth disparities. GDP growth had been strong and steady in 1993-2000 but fell back in 2001 with slowdowns in domestic investment and consumption and the weakening in the global economy. Perspective of closer integration with European Union put economy back on the route of growth, that is currently 2003 over 3% yearly.

The privatisation of small and medium state-owned companies and a liberal law on establishing new firms have allowed for the rapid development of an aggressive private sector, but without any development of consumer rights organisations.

In contrast, from a neoliberal point of view, Poland's large agricultural sector remains handicapped by structural problems, surplus labour, inefficient small farms, and lack of investment. Restructuring and privatisation of "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railroads, and energy) has begun. Structural reforms in health care, education, the pension system, and state administration have resulted in larger than expected fiscal pressures. Further progress in public finance depends mainly on privatisation of Poland's remaining state sector.

From popular point of view, reflecting the numerous and consistent street protests, is that while health care and the education system have suffered considerable damage from lack of successful conversion of institutions from state directed towards modern way of management. People are also afraid of the possible damage, that Polish agriculture may suffer, as integration into the European Union proceeds.

Apart from individuals like Jeffrey Sachs, many institutions such as the Research Triangle Institute have been involved in the shock therapy, which, for some people, has been positive, while for others, it has been a catastrophe.

The government's determination to enter the EU as soon as possible affected most aspects of its economic policies. Improving Poland's outsized current account deficit and reining in inflation are priorities. Warsaw leads the region in foreign investment and needs a continued large inflow.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Poland

Poland used to be a country of many languages, cultulres and religious. However, the outcome World War II and follwing shift westward to the area between Curzon line and Oder-Neisse line made Poland appear to be homogenous. Some 98% of today's population considers itself Polish, though there are several minorities of Germans, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Jews and Belarussians.

The official language is Polish, a member of the Slavic languages. Most Poles (95%) adhere to the Roman Catholic faith, though only 75% are practising Catholics. The remaining 5% consists of Eastern Orthodox and Protestant religious minorities.

Culture

Main article: Culture of Poland

A separate article exists on modern day Religious freedom in Poland.

**Holidays**
Date	English Name	Local Name
January 1	New Year's Day	Nowy Rok
May 3	Constitution Day	Święto Konstytucji 3 Maja
November 1	All Saints Day	Święto Zmarłych
November 11	Independence Day	Święto Niepodległości

International rankings

world-wide press freedom index Rank 29 out of 139 countries (2 way tie)

Miscellaneous topics

External Links

Poland.pl - Portal on Poland
Poland.com - another portal on Poland
KPRM - Official prime ministerial site
Prezydent - Official presidential site
Sejm - Official site of the Sejm
Senat - Official site of the Senate
Sad Najwyzszy - Official site of the Supreme Court
Trybunal Konstytucyjny - Official site of the Constitutional Tribunal

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