The education system in the development of total defence. Poland’s perspective

Author(s): Katarzyna Czornik / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2022

One of the key pillars of total defence is an increased social resilience to aggression, which is inextricably linked to an adequate model of security education. Poland’s security in the 21st century is based on the state’s military capacity and on the military and political alliances formed by decision-makers. However, this model of building security is not sufficient in the face of constantly changing and evolving security threats and challenges. Therefore, security should be based not only on a hard dimension, but also on a soft one, whose main pillar is security education. The idea of an effective model of security education is that, apart from giving young people theoretical knowledge, it is necessary to instil in them practical skills related to responding in crisis situations, including situations posing a threat to human health and life. Security education should constitute the first stage in training society in total defence. The educational model currently functioning in Poland definitely needs to be reformed.

Terroryzm a przestępczość zorganizowana – ujęcie teoretyczne

Author(s): Monika Ostrowska,Renata Stojecka-Zuber / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2023

Terrorism, despite the lack of a clear definition, it is an “unmistakable phenomenon”, and therefore easy to identify. The sources of terrorist actions can be found in ideologies and religions, as well as in various socio-economic, historical-political, sociological, and psychological factors. Terrorists are guided by various motivations and utilize different strategies to carry their acts but for all strategies fear manipulation is a common element. Over the years, the structure of terrorist groups has undergone radical changes, but the means and methods of their actions have not changed. The implementation of tasks set by terrorist groups requires money. This is the most important reason why terrorists cooperate with organized crime groups. This cooperation usually takes the form of partnership, immanent or subordination. It has contributed to the fact that terrorism and organized crime have become one of the biggest threats to the security of states and societies nowadays.

Countering the phenomenon of radicalization and violent extremism: analysis based on the example of selected Western European countries

Author(s): Jerzy Gut / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2023

Over the past decade, Western European countries have experienced a surge in Islamist and right-wing terrorism. The terrorist attacks have made the European community aware of the scale of the terrorist threat. The increase in the number of terrorist attacks is due, among other things, to the increasing radicalization, which in effect, in many cases, leads to terrorist activity. Confirmation of the negative effects of increasing radicalization in Western European countries, was a surprisingly large number of young people (men and women) who joined the so-called Islamic State in Syria and Iraq. Therefore, individual countries are implementing their strategies to combat radicalism and extremism, and taking measures aimed at deradicalization of already radicalized people. The main purpose of the article is to analyze the measures taken to counter radicalization and an attempt to assess their effectiveness, based on the example of selected Western European countries.

Wpływ białoruskiej presji migracyjnej w 2021 r. na bezpieczeństwo Polski. Między kryzysem humanitarnym a dezinformacją

Author(s): Grzegorz Baziur / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

The purpose of this article is to discuss the impact of the so-called the “migration crisis” on the Polish-Belarusian border in the second half of 2021 on the security of Poland. The text describes the attitude of Poland, Lithuania and Latvia to these events, the humanitarian crisis on the border and the attitude of the Polish authorities towards this situation, as well as the disinformation carried out against Poland and the Baltic states by the Belarusian regime, with the support of the Russian authorities. Conclusions: 1. The Belarusian migration pressure was a hybrid aggression aimed at weakening the eastern flank of the European Union and NATO. 2. Belarusian actions led to a huge humanitarian crisis, violations of human rights by the Belarusian services, as well as by the attacked countries, which, while defending their borders, acted under strong psychological and emotional pressure. 3. The introduction of the state of emergency in order to protect the border and secure the activities of the services was appropriate, but it made it much more difficult to provide help by volunteers and communicate reliable information from the area of operations.

Prorosyjskie partie polityczne w Ukrainie w latach 2014–2022

Author(s): Yevhenii Portnyi / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

The article attempts to examine the role and place of the pro-Russian parties in the Ukrainian political system in the period from Euromaidan (2014) to Russia’s launch of a full-scale invasion of Ukraine (2022). The author undertook the challenge of defining the characteristics of the pro-Russian forces by reviewing the electoral programs of selected political parties. In addition, the article explores the dynamics of support for the pro-Kremlin parties in the 2014 and 2019 parliamentary elections and explains the reasons for the short-term increase in the popularity of such political forces. The fate of the pro-Russian political parties after the outbreak of a full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine in February 2022 was also described.

Zum deutschen Diskurs über den Krieg gegen die Ukraine

Author(s): Wulf Lapins / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2023

The fierce controversy about the Ukraine war focuses on the German support role. Should Germany provide more political-diplomatic support for a potentially accelerated end to the war, or should the Ukraine be able to defend itself efficiently with a permanent supply of weapons in order to bring Russia to a ceasefire after assessment the balance of power?

Kwestia upamiętnienia ofiar II wojny światowej na forum Bundestagu (2020–2022)

Author(s): Aleksandra Trzcielińska-Polus / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

The article analyzes two projects for commemorating World War II victims in Berlin. The source basis are Bundestag documents, i.e., transcripts of plenary sessions, parliamentary questions and government responses, as well as draft resolutions and the resolutions themselves. This is because it is the responsibility of the Bundestag, among other things, to adopt the relevant resolutions on the basis of which the executive bodies implement plans to erect memorials to Nazi victims. The first project concerns a memorial of the Polish victims of the German occupation from 1939 to 1945 (Polen-Denkmal zum Gedenken an die polnischen Opfer der deutschen Besatzung 1939 bis 1945). The second is to document the German occupation throughout Europe (Dokumentationszentrum “Zweiter Weltkrieg und Besatzungsherrschaft”). The implementation of both projects was supported in the coalition agreement of 7.12.2021. However, comparing the pace of work on both projects, it should be noted that preparations for the Documentation Center project are progressing much faster and are finding more support in the government than the site for the commemoration of Polish victims.

Politycy z polskim tłem migracyjnym w Bundestagu: działalność Agnieszki Brugger i Paula Ziemiaka

Author(s): Aleksandra Kruk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

In the article career paths and the main ways of party activity are seen through the prism of evaluation of the articulation of political preferences and the creation of the political corps. The factual basis is the analysis of activity in German public space (mainly in the Bundestag) of politicians with a Polish migration background – Agnieszka Brugger (Alliance 90/The Greens) and Paul Ziemiak (CDU). The purpose of the article was to answer the question, how Brugger and Ziemiak, specialized in the area of international politics, are included in the identity of the represented political parties and formulate new propositions regarding the reaction to current and forecasted challenges and threats. The main points of their activities are given, including the ones related to prevention of the international crisis. In addition, the article aimed to assess whether the proposals of Brugger and Ziemiak fit in a classic image of the represented parties, or whether they influence beyond the typical framework and concern about influencing program transformation of the represented groups. The scale in which the politicians influence Polish-German relations was also evaluated.

Europäische Integration in den Konzepten der polnischen und deutschen Parteien der Europäischen Volkspartei

Author(s): Agnieszka Bielawska / Language(s): German Issue: 1/2023

The article presents and compares the concepts of European integration of two German parties – CDU and CSU – and two Polish parties – PO and PSL – which are members of the European People’s Party (EPP). It was divided into an introduction, three parts – the first one, which outlined how the Polish and German parties perceived the European Union, the second one related to the models of European integration that were close to the above-mentioned parties, and the third one, which describes how the CDU, CSU, PO and PSL perceived the enlargement of the European Union – and the conclusion. Article analyzes party documents, primarily election programs, that were published in 2004–2019.

Yakuza czy hangure? Przyszłość przestępczości zorganizowanej w Japonii

Author(s): Bogdan Barczak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

Despite the numerous threats of natural disasters, it was organized crime that raised the most concerns about the stability and functioning of the Japanese state and the security of its citizens. An indigenous variety of organized crime, the yakuza, developed in Japan. As a result of the process of fighting the yakuza groups, they were significantly reduced in number and deprived of their sources of income. However, effective measures against the yakuza had the side effect of giving rise to new organized crime groups, much more dangerous to public order, known as hangure, which began to take a place of the liquidated yakuza. The article attempts to answer the question: will the yakuza completely disappear from public space and its place be taken by hangure groups, and what impact will this have on the level of internal security in Japan.

Pucz wojskowy w 1980 roku i powstanie Trzeciej Republiki Turcji

Author(s): Paulina Stępniewska-Szydłowska / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2023

The proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923 initiated the process of building the specific position of the Turkish military in the political system of the state. For decades, the military did not perform a subservient function to the state, as implied by the democratic model of civilian control over the military, but conversely exercised guardianship over the political class. As a result, the generals in Turkey’s modern history have staged four successful military coups, each followed by taking control of the state administration and establishing military regimes. Extremely significant from a historical and political perspective was the military putsch carried out in 1980, the consequences of which are still visible today. The depiction and analysis of this event is the main purpose of the article, and although the time frame could be narrowed to the years 1973–1983, the author also refers to a broader historical perspective to demonstrate the causes and consequences of the events described.

Poland’s support for Ukraine’s aspirations to NATO membership

Author(s): Łukasz Jureńczyk / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

The aim of the article is to analyse and evaluate Poland’s attitude towards Ukraine’s aspirations to NATO membership. The main research problem is the question whether the authorities of sovereign Poland unambiguously supported the idea of Ukraine’s membership in NATO and whether they took measurable actions to implement it. The Polish authorities, regardless of political provenance, have invariably been in favour of NATO’s ‘open door’ policy since the end of the Cold War. They have supported the idea of including the post-Soviet republics, including Ukraine, in the Alliance. Ukraine’s entry into NATO is in Poland’s strategic interest, as it would almost cease to play the role of the Alliance’s flank state, which would significantly increase its security. The Polish authorities failed to convince NATO allies, mainly Western European countries, to include Ukraine in NATO, which was due to Russia’s strong opposition. However, new circumstances appeared with the Russian aggression against Ukraine in 2022. During the research, the method of content analysis of text sources was used.

Macron in praise of folly? How Macron’s France seeks to gain from power vacuum during the war in Ukraine

Author(s): Henry Welc / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

The Russian invasion has profoundly changed major power relations in which Paris was actively involved to the benefit of the latter, mostly at three levels. The first level, probably the most significant in Macron’s mind, is the European one. Not only did the economic and energy-related repercussions of the conflict put down the eternal German rival, shaken internally due to its historical ties with Moscow and not even sparing the European ‘Mutti,’ but Macron’s France also had the incredible timing of the French Presidency of the Council of the EU to assert a certain French advantage in Europe, and over Germany. The EU seems no longer governed by a duumvirate; the French presidency has unprecedentedly reinforced the French leadership in Brussels, despite various visions of the war between Western and Eastern Europe. Better yet, Macron has finally been able to seize the opportunity and advocate for his dearest project of a ‘European Defence.’ Strategic areas for French-privileged diplomatic spheres remain at the second level. International consequences of the war have transformed the French project. On the one hand, it has been quite disappointing that few have correlated the end of the Barkhane operation in Sahel with the ongoing conflict in Caucasia. On the other hand, it is certainly impossible not to notice the renewed French diplomatic efforts with the Gulf States, clearly shifting in a direction different from the one prior to the war and in favour of a closer rapprochement with country leaders who are not properly aligned with the belligerents in the Ukraine war. Finally, the Ukrainian war has enabled Paris to revive its relations with Washington, not to mention an attempt to stand at the same power level.

Ukrainian crisis: Egypt’s strategic choices

Author(s): Nathalie El-Bazzal / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2023

The foreign policy of the great powers due to the Arab revolutions and the recent upheavals in the Middle East seems to display an ‘American retreat’ and a ‘Russian comeback.’ In this context, the countries of the MENA region want to build their relations with new partners and not only with the United States. Egypt, which historically was an ally of the Soviet Union (today Russian Federation), and then of the United States, has kept a neutrality on the Ukrainian conflict for several reasons. My research work aims to provide a political and economic analysis in view of the strategic choices that Cairo has made. For several years, the land of the Pharaohs has been trying to balance its relations with Western countries and also those at the regional level and has become an essential mediator, such as in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. In terms of its food security, the country is dependent on Russian wheat (50%) as well as Ukrainian wheat (30%). The tourism sector, which is one of the country’s four main sources of income, is also a major issue for the government: Ukrainian and Russian tourists flock to the country in large numbers every year. On the commercial level, Russia is seeking to further develop its economic relations with Egypt. This is illustrated by the USD 20 billion project to build the first nuclear power plant in Egypt, in Dabaa, by the Russian state-owned company Rosatom.

Interview with Bartolomeo Rafael Bialas, Hania Krück, Dr. Ioseb “Soso” Gabelaia, Miguel Blanco

Author(s): Dariusz Fatuła,Andrzej Chodyński / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2023

Działalność organizacji pozarządowych na rzecz poprawy obronności państwa. Studium przypadku

Author(s): Tomasz Banasik,Katarzyna Banasik / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2023

The Russian invasion of Ukraine convinced the Polish government that permanent mobilizationf Polish people in the state defence is an absolute necessity. The third sector organizations play an invaluable role in this respect, and they have become an essential partner of the country’s defence system as far as their effort to organize suitable educational courses and improvement in upgrading pro-defensive abilities of Polish people are concerned. The article presents legal acts enabling the third sector to act effectively in the field of the state defence, a short overview of the articles concerning the subject as well as the results of the project conducted by the „PASSA” Association of Professional Activity in Kielce. The project was carried out within the competition announced by the Polish Ministry of Defence: „A State Defence and Activity of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland: You too can serve your homeland”. The analysis of the subject literature as well as the presented case study justify the conclusion that the third sector organizations can effectively support the government in its effort to improve the state defence system.

Uwarunkowania zarządzania problemami bezpieczeństwa w świecie VUCA

Author(s): Janusz Ziarko / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2024

The article presents the concepts of the VUCA world and security problems occurring in such a world, indicates some implications of these concepts for the management of security problems. The article first identifies the characteristics of the VUCA world as a set of factors shaping security threat environments, discusses how these factors interact with each other and affect the security environment. In its second part the article classifies and characterizes safety problems and the difficulties associated with solving them. The third part of the article presents some of the challenges and requirements posed by VUCA in understanding the complexity of security and safety management.

Możliwości i problemy zastosowania sztucznej inteligencji w zarządzaniu kryzysowym

Author(s): Katarzyna Sienkiewicz-Małyjurek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2024

The purpose of the article is to systematize the existing knowledge on the opportunities and problems associated with the use of artificial intelligence in emergency management. This goal was achieved based on a systematic literature review using the PRISMA Group methodology. As a result of the review, the development of research on artificial intelligence in emergency management was characterized, three research areas developing in this field were identified, and a detailed analysis of the opportunities and problems posed by artificial intelligence in emergency management was carried out. The results of the conducted research have added value to the theory and practice of emergency management.

Zarządzanie kryzysowe na przykładzie sektora węglowego w Polsce

Author(s): Anna Bałamut / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2024

The last few years have brought many changes to the shape of the energy sector in Poland. Diversification of directions and sources of energy has long had its place in the policy of energy and ecological security not only in Poland, but also in the European Union. The question is how Poland coped with adapting the energy market to the EU’s low- or zero-emission policy, how it coped with the reduction of supplies of raw materials from Russia, how it coped with the rising prices of raw materials. A crisis situation can turn into a success for an enterprise (in this case, the state) if actions are taken in a quick, effective and time-sensitive manner, both in the short and long term. The second element is the state’s wealth in raw materials, subjective resources (relations at the local, regional, national and international level) as well as an efficiently functioning mechanism and structure that skillfully distributes tasks. Specifying tasks and separating responsibilities allows for verification of activities and meticulous evaluation of them. Also the so-called circumstantial factors cannot be omitted, that constitute the components of the existing situation and give a full picture of it (crisis dominated by internal or external factors).

Wpływ koncepcji zarządzania na architekturę bezpieczeństwa biznesu – programy zapobiegania awariom przemysłowym

Author(s): Andrzej Chodyński / Language(s): Polish Issue: 1/2024

The influence of management concepts on the construction of a business security architecture ensuring the resilient behaviour of business entities in a situation of non-economic threats was determined. The role of redundant resources, especially of an intangible nature, on the construction of this architecture was analysed. The importance of resources such as intellectual capital, social capital, network connections or knowledge management, as well as CSR and ECSR was emphasised. Attention was drawn to the possibility of using them in a crisis situation. The role of the concept of ambidexterity, combining strategic thinking with ensuring business continuity in the event of an emergency, was considered. Special attention was given to the possibility of industrial accidents for critical infrastructure entities. Based on case studies, programmes and plans were presented for selected petrochemical companies with a high risk of a major industrial accident. The plans and programmes were related to the elements of the business architecture.