The article focuses, first and foremost, on attitude of the Polish Diaspora in the RSA towards socio-political situation in country of settlement. In solving problem particular attention is drawn to the attitude of the Polish Diaspora to political transition in South Africa. Relation to this process is portrayed by engagement of the Polish Diaspora in building new political order after apartheid – multiethnic democracy called New South Africa, among others through its participation in parliamentary elections, referendums and membership in political parties. Conclusions concentrate on conditions and effects of the Polish Diaspora participation in political life in country of settlement.

Lazarians as ambassadors of the national identity of Poles in Eastern Europe. The past, the present and the future

The article is dedicated to the activity on the part of Congregation of the Mission founded by Vincent de Paul, the so-called Lazarians, starting with their arrival to Poland in the 17th century, followed by their activity spreading to various parts of the Polish Republic in the subsequent centuries and the Mission’s difficulties in the 20th century in what is now Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia. Attention is also given to the scope and role of Congregation of the Mission in maintaining religious, linguistic and cultural traditions in the local Polish diasporas.

Lazaristé velvyslanci národní identity Poláků na východě Evropy. Minulost-přítomnost-budoucnost

The article presents the phenomenon of external voting: participation of citizens residing abroad in elections that take place in country of origin. Author offers the comparative analysis of data from parliamentary and presidential elections over last two decades (1990 – 2011) and elections to European Parliament (2004 – 2014) that took place in Poland. The noticeable increase in number of votes from abroad is the result of the growing stock of Poles residing abroad since Poland’s accession to the EU in 2004, the legal and institutional changes towards simplifying voting procedures, but also the consequence of the fact that emigration of Poles became an issue of media interest and target group for political parties during the electoral campaigns.