I come across so many people claiming that Poland is in Eastern Europe, and as far as I read online and experienced in Poland this is a statement that gets every Polish person really worked up. According to the sources across the internet, the reason for the countries in the figure above being considered to be Eastern European is because they were under influence of the former Soviet Union, but regarding the most accepted theory Poland is the geographical center of Europe making it a Central European country. It makes sense that Polish people don’t like being called Eastern Europeans if they do everything to move away from the negative views associated with that part of Europe. Just made some research on this debate and wanted to share them with you and maybe hear your thoughts on it. I mean no offense to anyone. Have a good day!

by LY-Angel

3 comments

  1. Culturally Poland seems more similar to Eastern European countries like Ukraine compared with central ones like Germany or Switzerland. At least it seems that way to an outsider, people that have lived in all of these places might disagree. The language is not as Germanic compared to most of central Europe, to someone that doesn’t speak Polish it sounds quite similar to Russian.

    I think you make a good point about it being a former part of the Soviet bloc.

    Poland has a few cultural quirks like the homophobia that don’t really fit with the values of much of Central or Western Europe.

    Finally a bit of a weird one but polish people look Eastern European e.g round features, not a bad thing.

  2. I never cared, I consider it eastern Europe due to it being largely synonymous with the Slavic world and former eastern bloc. The question is also very modern. Is Lwów a central European city? Less than a century ago it was Polish.

    Honestly, I think I have only known a handful of people who cared about the distinction. I usually see it referenced here or on “what not to do in Poland” tourist stuff. Most don’t care or are fine with each.

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