New Eastern Europe 2/2015

The second issue of 2015 is dedicated to understanding how the conflict in and around Ukraine has had an effect on the relations between two countries which are nearest and most intimately involved: Germany and Poland. The issue attempts to answer the question: Has Ukraine become a test for Polish-German relations? Our authors, most of whom are deeply involved in the Polish-German reconciliation process, present their reflections about the differences, but also the common ground, that these two countries have found throughout the last year in the context of the Ukraine conflict. The issue also goes deeper in analysing relations between the West and Russia throughout the last year. Most recently, many journalists, experts and analysts have claimed that we are heading towards a “new Cold War” with Russia. In a new section called “Doubletake”, the former president of Freedom House, David Kramer, tackles some of common assertions being made in favour of arguing that we are indeed in a new Cold War. While, in an exclusive interview with New Eastern Europe, Russian economist Sergei Guriev believes that current Russian foreign policy will only isolate the country even more underlining the bleak outlook for the country’s economic future if such a path continues.