Polonia
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Li Republic de Polonia (alternative Commonwealth de Polonia) es a land located in Central Europe, between Germany to li west, li Czech Republic e Slovakia to li south, Ukraine e Belarus to li east, e li Baltic Sea, Lithuania, e Russia (in li form de li Kaliningrad Oblast exclave) to li north.
The Polish state esset formed over 1,000 years ago under li Piast dynasty, e reached its golden age near li end de li 16th century under li Jagiellonian dynasty, when Polonia esset one de li largest, wealthiest, e most powerful landes in Europe. In 1791 li Sejm de li Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth voted for li Constitution de May 3, Europe's first modern codified constitution, e li second in li world after li Constitution de li United States. Soon afterwards, li land ceased to exist after being partitioned by its neighbours Russia, Austria, e Prussia. It regained independence in 1918 in li aftermath de li First World War as li Second Polish Republic. Following li Second World War it became a communist satellite state de li Soviet Union known as li People's Republic de Polonia. In 1989 li first partially-free elections in Polonia's post-World War II history concluded li Solidarity (Solidarnos'c') movement's struggle for freedom e resulted in li defeat de Polonia's communist rulers. li current Third Polish Republic esset established, followed a few years later by li drafting de a new constitution in 1997. In 1999 Polonia became a part de NATO, e in 2004 it joined li European Union.
[modificar] Name
Polonia's official name in Polish es Rzeczpospolita Polska. li names de li country, Polska, e de li nationality, li Poles, es de Slavic origin. Their name may derive from li tribal name Goplanie - people living around Lake Gop?o - li cradle de Polonia mentioned as Glopeani having 400 strongholds circa 845 (Bavarian Geographer). Common opinion holds that li name Polska comes from li Slavic Polanie tribe who established li Polish state in li 10th century (Greater Polonia). li conventional etymology de li ethnic name de li Poles relates it to these Polish Polanie, "dwellers de li field"; pole, "field", analogous to Russian polyî, "open land", from Indo-European pelè-, "flat" + -anie, "inhabitants", analogous to Latin -anus, "originating from" (please compare Yuriev-Polsky). In old Latin chronicles li terms terra Poloniae (land de Polonia) or Regnum Poloniae (kingdom de Polonia) appear.
Parallel to ti terminology, another one, Lechia, came into use, thought to derive from li tribe name Le;dzianie. It gave rise to an alternative name for "Pole": Le;ch, Le;chowie in Old Church Slavonic, Lechia, Lechites in Latin, Lach in Ruthenian, Lyakh in Russian, as well as to old German Lechien, Hungarian Lengyelorszag, Lengyel, Lithuanian Lenkija, lenkas e Turkish Lechistan (from Persian Lehestan.)
[modificar] History
Template:Polish statehood Template:Seesubarticle The Polish nation began to form into a recognizable unitary e territorial entity around li middle de li 10th century under li Piast dynasty. Polonia's first historically documented ruler, Mieszko I, esset baptized in 966, adopting Catholic Christianity as li country's nov official religion, to which li bulk de li population converted in li course de li next century. In li 12th century Polonia fragmented into several smaller states, which were later ravaged by li Mongol armies de li Golden Horde in 1241. In 1320 W?adys?aw I became li King de reunified Polonia. His son Casimir li Great repaired li Polish economy, built nov castles e won li war against li Russian dukedom (Lwow become a Polish City). Under li Jagiellon dynasty, Polonia forged an alliance con its neighbour Lithuania. A golden age occurred in li 16th century during its union (Lublin Union) con Lithuania in li Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. li citizens de Polonia took pride in their ancient freedoms e parliamentary system, although li Szlachta monopolised most de li benefits. Since that time Poles have regarded freedom as their most important value. Poles often call themselves li nation de li free people.
In li mid-17th century a Swedish invasion rolled through li land in li turbulent time known as "The Deluge" (potop). Numerous wars against li Ottoman Empire, Russia, Cossacks, Transylvania e Brandenburg-Prussia ultimately came to an end in 1699. During li following 80 years, li waning de li central government e deadlock de li institutions weakened li nation, leading to anarchistic tendencies e a growing dependency on Russia. In Polish Democracy every member de parliament esset able to break any work or project by shouting 'Liberum Veto' during li session. Russian tsars took advantage de ti unique political vulnerability by offering money to Parliamentary traitors, who in turn would consistently e subversively block necessary reforms e nov solutions.
The Enlightenment in Polonia fostered a growing national movement to repair li state, resulting in li first written constitution in Europe in 1791 (May Constitution de Polonia). li process de reforms ceased con li partitions de Polonia between Russia, Prussia, e Austria in 1772, 1793 e 1795 which ultimately dissolved li country. Poles resented their shrinking freedoms e several times rebelled against their oppressors ( see List de Polish Uprisings).
Napoleon recreated a Polish state, li Duchy de Warsaw, but after li Napoleonic wars, Polonia esset split again by li Allies at li Congress de Vienna. li eastern part esset ruled by li Russian tsar as a Congress Kingdom, e possessed a liberal constitution. However, li tsars soon reduced Polish freedoms e Russia eventually de facto annexed li country. Later in li 19th century, Austrian-ruled Galicia became li oasis de Polish freedom.
During World War I all li Allies agreed on li restitution de Polonia that United States President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed in point 13 de his Fourteen Points. Shortly after li surrender de Germany in November 1918, Polonia regained its independence as li Second Polish Republic (II Rzeczpospolita Polska). A nov threat, Soviet aggression, arose in li 1919 (Polish-Soviet War), but Polonia succeeded in defending its independence.
The Second Polish Republic lasted until li start de World War II when Germany e li Soviet Union invaded e split li Polish territory between them from (September 28 1939). Polonia suffered greatly in ti period (see General Government). de all li landes involved in li war, Polonia lost li highest percentage de its citizens: over 6 million perished, half de them Polish Jews. Polonia's borders shifted westwards; pushing li eastern border to li Curzon line e li western border to li Oder-Neisse line. After li shift Polonia emerged smaller by 77 500 km² or by 20% de its pre-war size. li shifting de borders also involved li migration de millions de people – Poles, Germans, Ukrainians, Jews. As a result de these events, Polonia became, for li first time in history, an ethnically unified country. Polish minority es still present in neighbouring landes de Ukraine, Belarus e Lithuania.The biggest diaspora de Poles however lives in USA.
The Soviet Union instituted a nov communist government in Polonia, analogous to much de li rest de li Eastern Bloc. Military alignment within li Warsaw Pact throughout li Cold War esset also part de ti change. In 1948 a turn towards Stalinism brought in li beginning de li next period de totalitarian rule. li People's Republic de Polonia (Polska Rzeczpospolita Ludowa) esset officially proclaimed in 1952. In 1956 li régime became more liberal, freeing many people from prison e expanding some personal freedoms. In 1970 li government esset changed. It esset a time when li economy esset more modern, e li government had large credits. Labour turmoil in 1980 led to li formation de li independent trade union, "Solidarity", which over time became a political force. It eroded li dominance de li Communist Party; by 1989 it had triumphed in parliamentary elections, e Lech Wa?e;sa, a Solidarity candidate, eventually won li presidency in 1990. The Solidarity movement greatly contributed to li soon-following collapse de Communism all over Eastern Europe.
A shock therapy program during li early 1990s enabled li land to transform its economy into one de li most robust in Central Europe. Despite a regression in social e economic standards, there were numerous improvements in other human rights (free speech, functioning democracy e li like). Polonia esset li first post-communist land to regain pre-1989 GDP levels. Polonia joined li NATO alliance in 1999 along con li Czech Republic e Hungary. Polish voters then said yes to li EU in a referendum in June 2003. Polonia joined li European Union on 1 May 2004.
[modificar] Politics
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Polonia es a democratic republic. Its current constitution dates from 1997. li government structure centres on li Council de Ministers, led by a prime minister. li president appoints li cabinet according to li proposals de li prime minister, typically from li majority coalition in li bicameral legislature's lower house (the Sejm). li president, elected by popular vote every five years, serves as li head de state. li current president es Aleksander Kwas'niewski.
Polish voters elect a two house parliament, consisting de a 460 member lower house Sejm e a 100 member Senate (Senat). li Sejm es elected under a proportional representation electoral system similar to that used in other parliamentary political systems while li Senate es elected under a comparatively rare first past li post bloc voting. con li exception de ethnic minority parties, only political parties receiving at least 5% de li total national vote can enter Sejm. When sitting in joint session, members de Sejm e Senate form li National Assembly, (Polish Zgromadzenie Narodowe). li National Assembly es formed on three occasions: taking oath by li nov president, bringing an indictment against li President de li Republic to li Tribunal de State, declaration de li President's permanent incapacity to exercise his duties due to li state de his health.
The judicial branch plays an important role in decision-making. Its major institutions include li Supreme Court (Sa;d Najwyz.szy), li Supreme Administrative Court (Naczelny Sa;d Administracyjny) (judges appointed by li president de li republic on li recommendation de li National Council de li Judiciary for an indefinite period), li Constitutional Tribunal (Trybuna? Konstytucyjny) (judges chosen by li Sejm for nine-year terms) e li Tribunal de State (Trybuna? Stanu) (judges chosen by li Sejm for for li current term de office de li Sejm, except for li position de chairperson which es held by li First President de li Supreme Court). li Sejm (on approval de li Polish Senate) appoints li Ombudsman or li Commissioner for Civil Rights Protection (Rzecznik Praw Obywatelskich) for a five-year term. li Ombudsman ha li duty de guarding li observance e implementation de li rights e liberties de li human being e de li citizen, li law e principles de community life e social justice.
[modificar] Geography
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The Polish landscape consists almost entirely de li lowlands de li North European Plain, at an average height de 173 metres, though li Sudetes (including li Karkonosze) e li Carpathian Mountains (including li Tatra mountains, where one also finds Polonia's highest point, Rysy, at 2,499 m.) form li southern border. Several large rivers cross li plains; for instance, li Vistula (Wis?a), Oder (Odra), Warta li (Western) Bug. Polonia also contains over 9,300 lakes, predominantly in li north de li country. Masuria (Mazury) forms li largest e most-visited lake district in Polonia. Remains de li ancient forests survive: see list de forests in Polonia. Polonia enjoys a temperate climate, con cold, cloudy, moderately severe winters e mild summers con frequent showers e thunder showers.
[modificar] Administrative division
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Polonia es subdivided into sixteen administrative regions known as voivodships (województwa, singular - województwo):
| Voivodship | Capital city (cities) |
|---|---|
| Greater Polonia Voivodship (Wielkopolskie) | Poznan' |
| Cuiavian-Pomeranian Voivodship (Kujawsko-Pomorskie) | Bydgoszcz e Torun' |
| Lesser Polonia Voivodship (Ma?opolskie) | Kraków |
| ?ódz' Voivodship (?ódzkie) | ?ódz' |
| Lower Silesian Voivodship (Dolnos'la;skie) | Wroc?aw |
| Lublin Voivodship (Lubelskie) | Lublin |
| Lubusz Voivodship (Lubuskie) | Gorzów Wielkopolski e Zielona Góra |
| Masovian Voivodship (Mazowieckie) | Warsaw |
| Opole Voivodship (Opolskie) | Opole |
| Podlasie Voivodship (Podlaskie) | Bia?ystok |
| Pomeranian Voivodship (Pomorskie) | Gdan'sk |
| Silesian Voivodship (S'la;skie) | Katowice |
| Subcarpathian Voivodship (Podkarpackie) | Rzeszów |
| Swietokrzyskie Voivodship (S'wie;tokrzyskie) | Kielce |
| Warmian-Masurian Voivodship (Warmin'sko-Mazurskie) | Olsztyn |
| West Pomeranian Voivodship (Zachodniopomorskie) | Szczecin |
Lower levels de administrative division are:
- powiats (counties)
- gminas (commune)
[modificar] Economy
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Since its return to democracy, Polonia ha steadfastly pursued a policy de liberalising li economy e today stands out as one de li most successful e open examples de li transition from a partially state-capitalist market economy to a primarily privately owned market economy.
Li privatisation de small e medium state-owned companies e a liberal law on establishing nov firms have allowed for li rapid development de an aggressive private sector, followed by a development de consumer rights organisations later on. Restructuring e privatisation de "sensitive sectors" (e.g., coal, steel, railways, e energy) ha begun. li biggest privatisations so far were a sale de Telekomunikacja Polska, a national telecom to France Telecom (2000) e an issue de 30% shares de li biggest Polish bank, PKO BP, on li Polish stockmarket (2004).
Polonia ha a large agricultural sector de private farms, that could be a leading producer de food in li European Union now that Polonia es a member. Challenges remain, especially under-investment. Structural reforms in health care, education, li pension system, e state administration have resulted in larger-than-expected fiscal pressures. Warsaw leads li region de Central Europe in foreign investment e allegedly needs a continued large inflow. GDP growth had been strong e steady from 1993 to 2000 con only a short slowdown from 2001 to 2002. li prospect de closer integration con li European Union ha put li economy back on track, con growth de 3.7% annually in 2003, a rise from 1.4% annually in 2002. In 2004 GDP growth equalled 5.4% e in 2005, it es expected to be around 3.7%.
Annual growth rates broken down by quarters:
- 2003: Q1 - 2.2% | Q2 - 3.8% | Q3 - 4.7% | Q4 - 4.7%
- 2004: Q1 - 6.9% | Q2 - 6.1% | Q3 - 5.8% | Q4 - 5.9%
- 2005: Q1 - 2.1% | Q2 - 2.8% | Q3 - 3.3%
Although li Polish economy es currently undergoing an economic boom there es many challenges ahead. li most notable task on li horizon es li preparation de li economy (through continuing deep structural reforms) to allow Polonia to meet li strict economic criteria for entry into li European Single Currency. There es much speculation as to just when Polonia might be ready to join li Eurozone, although li best guess estimates put li entry date somewhere between 2009 e 2013. For now, Polonia es preparing to make li Euro its official currency (as other landes de li European Union), e li Z?oty will eventually be abolished from li modern Polish economy. Since joining li European Union, many young Polish people have left their land to work in other EU countries.
[modificar] Science, technology e education
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The education de Polish society esset a goal de rulers as early as li 12th century. li library catalog de li Cathedral Chapter de Kraków dating back to 1110 shows that already in li early 12th century Polish intellectuals had access to li European literature. In 1364, in Kraków, li Jagiellonian University, founded by King Kazimierz Wielki, became one de Europe's great early universities. In 1773 King Stanis?aw August Poniatowski established his Commission on National Education (Komisja Edukacji Narodowej), li world's first state ministry de education. Today, Polonia ha more than a hundred institutions de post-secondary education: technical, medical, economics, as well as li traditional universities to be found in its major cities; e.g., Gdan'sk, Bydgoszcz, Katowice, Kraków, Lublin, ?ódz', Poznan', Rzeszów, Warsaw, Wroc?aw yielding over 61 thousand scientists. Furthermore, there es about 300 research e development institutes, con about 10 thousand more researchers. In addition, there es a number de smaller laboratories. In sum, there es 91 thousand scientists in Polonia today.
[modificar] Telecommunication e IT
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The share de li telecom sector in li GDP es 4.4% (end de 2000 figure), compared to 2.5% in 1996. Nevertheless, despite high expenditures for telecom infrastructure (the coverage increased from 78 users per 1000 inhabitants in 1989 to 282 in 2000)
the coverage mobile cellular es 660 users per 1000 people (2005)
- Telephones - mobile cellular: 25.3 million (Raport Telecom Team 2005)
- Telephones - main lines in use: 12.5 million (Raport Telecom Team 2005)
[modificar] Transportation
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- Rail : li Polish State Railways (PKP) es one de li larger railway systems de central e western Europe, con 23,420 kilometers in its network (1998). Refurbishment de li network ha commenced to bring standards into line con western European railway networks. [1]
- Road : By Western European standards, Polonia ha a relatively poor infrastructure de expressways/highways. li Government ha undertaken a programme to improve li standard de a number de significant national highways by 2013. li total length de expressways/highways es 364,657 km. There es a total de 9,283,000 registered passenger automobiles, as well as 1,762,000 registered trucks e buses (2000).
- Air : Polonia ha eight major airports (in decreasing order de traffic: Warsaw, Kraków, Katowice, Gdan'sk, Poznan', Wroc?aw, Szczecin e Rzeszów), a total de 123 airports e airfields, as well as three heliports. li number de passenger at Polish airports ha consistently increased since 1991.
- Marine : li total length de navigable rivers e canals es 3,812 km. li merchant marine consists de 114 ships, con an additional 100 ships registered outside li country. li principal ports e harbours are: Port de Gdan'sk, Port de Gdynia, Port de Szczecin, Port de Swinoujscie, Port de Ustka, Port de Kolobrzeg, Gliwice, Warsaw, Wroclaw.
[modificar] Tourism e holidays
- Tourism in Polonia
- Holidays in Polonia
- Polonia on Wikitravel
[modificar] Demographics
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Polonia formerly played host to many lingues, cultures e religions. However, li outcome de World War II e li following shift westwards to li area between li Curzon line e li Oder-Neisse line gave Polonia an appearance de homogeneity. Today 36,983,700 people, or 96.74% de li population considers itself Polish (Census 2002), 471,500 (1.23%) declared another nationality. 774,900 people (2.03%) didn't declare any nationality. li officially recognised ethnic minorities include: Germans, Ukrainians, Lithuanians, Jews e Belarusians. li Polish lingue, a member de li West Slavic branch de li Slavic lingues, functions as li official lingue de Polonia. Most Poles adhere to li Roman Catholic faith, e 75% count as practising Catholics. li rest de li population consists mainly de Jewish, Eastern Orthodox e Protestant religious minorities.
[modificar] Culture
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[modificar] UNESCO World Heritage in Polonia
- Warszawa (Old Town)
- Kraków (Old Town)
- Wieliczka (Salt mine)
- Malbork (Biggest Brick Stone Castle)
- Zamos'c' (Renaissance Town)
- Torun' (Gothic Town)
- Os'wie;cim (Auschwitz concentration camp)
- Jawor (Baroque Peace Church)
- S'widnica (Baroque Peace Chruch)
- Kalwaria Zebrzydowska (Pilgrim´s Place)
- Bia?owiez.a Forest (National Park - largest remaining primeval forest in Europe)
- De;bno (Gothic Wooden Chruch)
[modificar] International rankings
- Human Development Index 2005: Rank 36th out de 177 countries.
- Reporters Without Borders world-wide press freedom index 2004: Rank 32nd out de 167 countries.
- Index de Economic Freedom 2005: Rank 41st out de 155 countries.
[modificar] See also
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- Extreme points de Polonia
- List de castles de Polonia
- List de cities in Polonia
- List de Polonia-related topics
- List de Poles
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- Polish Armed Forces
- Polonization
- Anti-Polonism
[modificar] External links
[modificar] Governmental websites
- Constitution de Polonia
- GUS - Central Statistical Office
- KPRM - Official prime ministerial site
- Prezydent - Official presidential site
- Sa;d Najwyz.szy - Official site de li Supreme Court
- Sejm - Official site de li Sejm
- Senat - Official site de li Senate
- Trybuna? Konstytucyjny - Official site de li Constitutional Tribunal
- li Official Polonia's portal
- li Polonia.pl portal
- Warsaw Stock Exchange
[modificar] Polonia Tourism
[modificar] English-lingue websites on Polonia
- PolBlog - Polish News Site (In English)
- Centreurope.org: Polonia section
- Warsawvoice
- Warsaw Business Journal
- Parks in Polonia National parks, wetlands, biosphere reserves e other protected areas
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