New Relations, Old Prejudices
Neighbourly Relations at the Level of Society
Deutsche Fassung
Abstract
Since the conclusion of the 1991 Treaty on Neighbourly Relations, Germany and Poland have come a long, long way on the road to understanding. But mutual perceptions within each country’s society are still instable: In times of political tension, old prejudices and fears are easily resuscitated and politically instrumentalised. Public diplomacy and foreign cultural policy depend on the media to break down negative perceptions. Yet much of the media’s reporting is insufficient, based on stereotypes, or fixated on conflict. This is counterproductive.
(Osteuropa 5-6/2011, pp. 65–78)