Abstract

The publication describes the Polish policy regarding the Polish diaspora from 2015 to 2020. The base of the article is the relationship with the Polish-American community. The author covers not only formal aspects, including legal and institutional instruments but also presents selected examples of practical activities undertaken within this policy. The article starts with a summary of the history of the Polish diaspora in the territory of today’s United States. The author described the role played by Polish citizens in the building and development of the first American settlements. That was a cornerstone of Polish American cooperation that is vital for both nations till the present times. Lastly, the author presented facts and numbers related to contemporary Polish diaspora living in the United States. In the next part, the author points out the regulations regulations which are base for these policy. Due to the multitude of legal norms in this area, the article focuses on selected several regulated areas. In this part the author also touches on the topic of the institutions dedicated to conduct activities in this sector. In the following part publication focuses on examples of practical activities undertaken by Polish institutions. These included financial support for Polish educational and cultural institutions and public media, as well as cooperation with the US government and inviting Poland in the visa-waiver program. In conclusion, the Polish policy on the relation with the diaspora was at a sufficient level. The Polish Government continuously cooperates with various representatives of the Polish community. This attitude allows the Government to act effectively and meet the expectations of the Polish-American community. We need to keep in mind that a multitude of regulations might look inconsistent. Therefore it would be appropriate to codify the regulations in one document. It would be also considered to create a representative office in the United States for this matter.