‘Poland is Back’: German Narrative Adjustment in the German-Polish Special Relationship, 2007–2024
Journal: German Politics
Year: 2025

Poland is one of Germany’s most significant international partners and is characterised in German discourses as a neighbour, friend and ally. Nevertheless, recent changes in government in Poland have significantly impacted the relationship. Situating the German-Polish case within the literature on ‘special relationships’, this paper argues that these can be better understood through analysis of official narratives, and proposes a theoretical distinction between ‘essential narratives’ and ‘non-es