The" Problem of History" Between Germany and Poland : A View of Situation Assessment and Towards the Building of Trust

与日韩和日中关系类似，德国和波兰的关系经常被根深蒂固的敌意和宿怨所破坏。但这些关系要好得多。这种友好关系并不局限于精英和机构层面，因为它也清楚地体现在德国和波兰公民的态度上。两国之间政治气氛的改善是波兰成为欧盟成员国的结果。西里西亚地区以前是德国的一部分，现在有一个德国少数民族，他们已经形成了一种既不完全是德国人也不是波兰人的原始身份。欧盟‘S’对该地区内‘弹性身份’的认可具有重要意义。为了解决国与国之间的历史问题并找到建立相互信任关系的方法，有必要拥有超越民族国家层面的手段。日本必须认真努力实现这些目标。

Similar to Japanese-Korean and Japanese-Chinese relations, German-Polish relations are frequently marred by animosities and feuds that are rooted in the'' past''. But these relations have been much better. This amicability is not limited to the level of elites and institutions, for it can also clearly be seen in the attitudes of both German and Polish citizens. The improved political atmosphere between the two nations is a result of the Polish nation becoming a member of the European Union. The Silesia region, an area that was formerly part Germany, has a German minority that has developed an original identity that is neither wholly German nor Polish. The European Union' s recognition of'' flexible identity'' within the region is highly significant. In order to resolve historical issues that come between nations and to find ways to build relationships of mutual trust, it is necessary to have the means to go beyond the nation-state level. Japan must make a serious effort to achieve these aims.