Page "Pan-Slavism" Paragraph 16

Although early Pan-Slavism had found interest among some Poles, it soon lost its appeal as the movement became dominated by Russia, and while Russian Pan-Slavists spoke of liberation of other Slavs through Russian actions, parts of Poland had been ruled by the Russian Empire since the Partitions of Poland.

Historically, Poland often saw itself in partnership with non-Slavic nations most of the time, such as Hungary, Saxony, Sweden or Lithuania under the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth from 1569 to 1795.

Especially after 1795, Revolutionary and Napoleonic France was esteemed by most Poles at that time as the best champion for the reconstitution of their country as it was a mutual enemy of Austria, Prussia and Russia.

The influence of 19th century Pan-Slavism had little impact in Poland except for creating sympathy towards the other oppressed Slavic nations to regaining independence.

At the same time while Pan-Slavism worked against Austro-Hungary with South Slavs, Poles enjoyed a wide autonomy within the state and assumed a loyalist position as they were able to develop their national culture and preserve Polish language, something under threat in both German and Russian Empires.

A Pan-Slavic federation was proposed, but on the condition that the Russian Empire would be excluded from such an entity.

After Poland regained its independence ( from Germany, Austria and Russia ) in 1918 no major or minor force considered Pan-Slavism as a serious alternative, viewing Pan-Slavism as little more than a code word for Russification.

During Poland's communist era the USSR used Pan-Slavism as propaganda tool to justify its control over the country.

The issue of the Pan-Slavism was not part of the mainstream political agenda, and is widely seen as an ideology of Russian imperialism.