Wide context

Complete PICLE corpus of essays by Polish advanced EFL students (330,000)

/^t/Now, a few remarks about disadvantages of Polish membership in the European structures. Some critics of this membership say that Poland will have to hand over elements of its national, state independence to an international organization: The European Community. For those critics, Brussels (as the centre of united Europe) seems to be a real menace to Poland its tradition, national religion, culture. But, on the other hand, is it possible at all nowadays that an average country may be fully independent in the world of mass-communication high technology and trade? And what about the consequences that are the result of the international cooperation and mutual obligations? Is there a country (apart from superpowers) that can rely only on itself? Besides, can Poland afford to remain in a "buffer zone" between the rich West and the poor and politically unstable East? The answer seems to be obvious.