Polish-Turkish Relations from the Eighteenth through the Twentieth Century

This interdisciplinary volume examines the longstanding and complex relations between Poland and Turkey from the 18th century to the present, exploring their cultural, diplomatic, political and economic dimensions.Drawing on extensive archival research across Europe and the Middle East, it presents a polyphonic narrative that highlights both shared interests and moments of divergence between the two states. The book analyses key themes such as public and cultural diplomacy, transcultural identities, stateless diplomacy, economic cooperation and contemporary foreign policy. It traces how these relations evolved despite periods of geopolitical instability and asymmetries of power, offering new insights into Eastern European and Middle Eastern entanglements. By reassessing Polish–Turkish ties through a longue durée lens, the book contributes to current debates on EU–Turkey relations and the relevance of historical models of cooperation in shaping contemporary international engagements. Rich in empirical material and combining historical, political and cultural analysis, the volume is essential reading for scholars and postgraduate students in international relations, Ottoman and East European history, political science and cultural diplomacy. Its fresh approach and innovative framework make it equally accessible to a broader audience, including policymakers, librarians and non-specialist readers interested in global history and regional connectivity.

About the Author

Karolina Wanda Olszowska is Assistant Professor at the Faculty of International and Political Studies at Jagiellonian University.

Paulina Dominik is Dan David Postdoctoral Fellow at the Faculty of Humanities at Tel Aviv University and former Max Weber Postdoctoral Fellow at the European University Institute.

Agnieszka Ayşen Kaim is Associate Professor at the Institute of Slavic Studies at the Polish Academy of Sciences.

Hacer Topaktaş Üstüner is Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the Faculty of Letters at Istanbul University.

Zofia Gródek-Szostak is Assistant Professor in the Department of Economics and Organization of Enterprises at the Kraków University of Economics.

Karol Wasilewski is Head of the Turkey, Caucasus and Central Asia Department at the Centre for Eastern Studies (OSW).