“Prometheism” and the ideas of independence of the Caucasus in the foreign policy plans of Poland in the 1920-1930s

Introduction. The issue of international relations between Poland and Russia remains an important field of research not only for political scientists but also for historians. The politics of memory is becoming an important component of the public political strategy for interpreting and consolidating historical discourse in the public consciousness, which helps regulate the functioning of collective memory. Commemorative practices are particularly in demand during periods of change for society, primarily during the formation or restoration of statehood, when the search for conceptual principles of a national idea is underway. In this regard, it is interesting to consider the idea of Prometheism as a special component of the foreign policy concept of Poland (the Second Polish Republic) in relation to the USSR.

Materials and methods. The study is based on the analysis of diplomatic correspondence, Polish intelligence reports, and reports of Prometheus organizations, documents based on the diachronic method, taking into account the historical context.

Analysis showed that the Caucasian Prometheus vector of the policy of Poland was directly dependent on its foreign policy objectives and the current political situation, which was determined by its interactions with Germany and the USSR.

Results. The Caucasus did not play a decisive role in Polish policy in the 1920s and 1930s, but was viewed as a significant area capable of undermining the USSR domestic political stability through the destabilization of its national outskirts. It was seen as a desired outcome of the activities of émigré circles from Armenia, Georgia, Azerbaijan, and the North Caucasus who shared the Promethean idea. The formation of the Confederation of the Caucasus under Polish auspices failed in the 20th century, but the efforts of Poland to integrate the states of the South Caucasus into the orbit of EU policy can be considered as a follow-up.

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