Beschreibung
It is widely believed that the Polish-Soviet territorial settlement of late 1920 did not have much to do with ethnic factors. However, this research study shows that they did play a significant role. Both sides established their contrary territorial programs based on their different understandings of the historic Borderlands ethnic geography, although political, strategic, and ideological factors were also taken into account. Since neither Pilsudskis federalism nor Lenins Soviet nationalism found much support within the Borderlands, the issue of which program would prevail had to be resolved on the battlefield. The peace negotiations which ended the war reflected to no small degree the concern of both sides for ethnic geography. In the end, the Riga preliminary treaty mirrored the Polish territorial program in its alternative, incorporationist version, which was more moderate than Pilsudskis federalism. Ultimately, the assessment of whether the Riga border had any justification in ethnic terms depends on ones view of the Borderlands ethnic geography. There is no doubt, however, that ethnic considerations played a significant role in the process of shaping it.
Autorenporträt
Jerzy Borzecki holds a PhD in History from the University of Toronto. He has completed his postdoctoral studies in the History Department at Yale University. He is a Sessional Lecturer in the Department of Historical Studies at the University of Toronto at Mississauga.
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