The polish farmer is no longer there, suddenly Ivan shows up to a free farm
my question isn't about genocide or ethnic cleansing but about what would happen if Poland became Russian by nationality
The question is not weither or not it happened, I know it did not, Poland is on my map
If Poland became as much Russian as belorussia was by the late 1800's, would Russia be better off than historically?
Basically, despite HOW it is done, a more homogenous state will no doubt mean that Russia has less problems what with no (or fewer) Polish Uprisings and Connivings and such. Of course, they still have all those other nationalities everywhere. And no matter HOW it happens, you will have some sort of Polish Uprisings/Revolts on your hands.
I think, if the Russians do this in as humane a manor as possible - or as quiet as possible - then they will be able to sufficiently alter the demographics in traditional Polish lands to become more beneficial to Russians and the Tsar. You will STILL, however, have problems with the nobility, particularly since you're sticking a bunch of freed serfs into regions which otherwise would have a very complicated internal political situation.
Likewise, with a forcible migration WEST rather than East, you'll have a more Euro-centric Russian than OTL, and this means that Russia will have far less influence in Manchuria and will mean an even earlier sale of Alaska. Perhaps less emphasis on the Far East in general, so no great port at Vladivostok, no Trans-Siberian Railway, the Russo-Japanese War butterflied... hell, Russia may even sell parts of Siberia. This may also put into question Russia's suzerainty over Central Asia and as far south as Persia or even the Caucasus. Unless, of course, you cart all those Poles off to Siberia someplace as veritable serfs there.
More Russians at, say, Danzig will mean less import on the water access at St. Petersburg (perhaps) and also less interest in holding onto the Baltic States (potentially). Depending on WHEN exactly you're wanting to do all this, of course. The earlier the better off Russia will be. Otherwise, it could all go very badly when/if World War 1 kicks off and Germany can pull in hundreds of thousands of Poles with the promise of a free Polish State once again inhabited by ethnic Poles. At the same time, though, if the Poles end up going to France, UK, and USA, there might be more French Foreign/Condor Legions running around with the Allies if they can swing enough diplomatic support to get Russia to back off.
That's decades later, of course, so there's plenty that could be done.
Hell, one of the main reasons that Russia and Germany went to war was simply that Wilhelm constantly talked down to his cousin, Nicholas. You change enough of the personal interactions there, over the Polish issue, then perhaps you'll have a sooner Russo-German War in 1908 or something, or a German-Russian Alliance in whatever World War 1 scenario you come across.
Just depends on how the International Polish Emigration was handled. But yes, if handled correctly, Russia will have a stronger presence and bargaining chip in Eastern Europe. Might butterfly the Serb-Russian relationship, however, since Serbia will look at what the Russians did to OTHER Slavs and say "Hmm, maybe Ivan wants to displace we Serb, too."
Might be interesting to see.