Transitions Online_Politics: Russia vs. the West: Question Time Is Over – 16 September
A new study of the fraught state of international relations covers a lot of ground but fails to dig deep enough.
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A new study of the fraught state of international relations covers a lot of ground but fails to dig deep enough.
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In the news: Russia and NATO; Albania, North Macedonia, and the EU; Ursula von der Leyen’s commissioners; Armenia, Iran and the U.S.; and Polish coal.
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This article is an attempt to answer the question: how Polish Armed Forces respond to non-military threats in the crisis management system? It presents the structure and crisis management plans of the Ministry of National Defence, as well as the strength and the measures that the Polish Armed Forces may designate to undertake the tasks in the crisis management system. It indicates the main reasons for increasing the role of the Polish Armed Forces in this system, as well as the existing shortcomings, especially in the field of cooperation between the military and civilian components. It also points to the elements in the functioning of the crisis management system and the Polish Armed Forces in this system, which have a decisive impact to ensure national security.
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This article is an attempt to answer the question: On the basis of what legal standards the Polish Armed Forces respond to non-military threats in the crisis management system? It contains characteristics of non-military threats, as well as the essence of crisis management and crisis management system. The essential content of this article is to characterize and assess the most important, current existing legislation regulating the participation of Polish Armed Forces in responding to the non-military threat in the crisis management system.
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The establishing of the Government Centre for Security constituted a significant step in building an effective and comprehensive system of crisis management – a system thanks to which it is possible to prevent crises and, in case of their occurrance, to minimize their impact by taking professional actions. The Government Centre for Security was established under the Act of 26 April 2007 on Crisis Management and it has been operating since the 2nd August 2008. Government Centre for Security is a supraministerial structure which aims to optimize and standardize the perception of threats by individual government departments, thereby increasing the degree of ability to cope with difficult situations by the competent services and public administration authorities. The Centre is ensuring services to the Council of Ministers, Prime Minister, the Government Crisis Management Team and a minister competent for internal affairs within the scope of crisis management. Moreover, the Centre serves as a national centre for crisis management coordinating of activities the units related to crisis management. In addition, developing optimal solutions to the emerging crisis situations as well as the coordination of the flow of information concerning the threats are also within the scope of the tasks of the Government Centre for Security. Furthermore, the overall structure of organisation and operating mode of the Centre are described in the article.
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The article present problem of the participation of the President of the Republic of Poland in the implementation of tasks in the area of national security, including the multi-state nature. In the first part the author presents the origins and evolution of the institution of the President of our country. The second and third parts of the paper presents the considerations in respect of the powers and duties of head of state in the national security system. The result of our topic are the conclusions and recommendations relating to the role of President of the Republic in the national security system.
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During few last years a new phenomenon of appearing of unconventional character conflicts is being observed. The above mentioned conflicts run below the threshold of the hot war – these are so-called conflicts in the gray zone. The article explains notions of the unconventional war and the war run in the gray zone. The contents of the article characterise new forms of wars run mainly with the using of non-military instruments and non-kinetic influence. The article demonstrates the way how political objectives are being achieved without using military power in modern times. The thesis explains the way the strategies of China and the United States are realized – by the applying the boundless war and the political war respectively.
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The security of the state is of particular importance when for our eastern borders lasts Ukrainian - Russian conflict and obvious are the imperial aspirations of Russia. Significant impact on the security of our country also have conflicts in Iraq and Syria and the associated with them exodus of population from these areas to Europe. These new conditions and the ongoing process of building an integrated system of national security enforces the need for a wider look at the issues of the readiness of state to defend and protect.This article is an attempt to answer the question: how, taking into account the contemporary threats, should be organized readiness of the state to defend and protect? It includes characterization and assessment of the current arrangements for the readiness to defend the state and the readiness for crisis management system to protect people, property, environment and infrastructure. It indicates the remaining shortcomings in this area and shows the concept of a comprehensive approach to the readiness of the state to defend and protect in modern conditions.
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The effects of a variety of military and non-military risks are the most felt by the civilian. This situation makes increasing the importance of civil defence defined as a humanitarian. The Problem of civil defence is normalised by national and international law. For particularly important regulations should be considered as indicate the essence of civil defence, position, role and tasks in the national security system. For the organisation of civil defence in Poland is the Chef of Civil Defence.
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The article presents issues concerning the Military Technical Academy in terms of space and the role it plays this institution in the security system. Military University of Technology in the higher education system occupies a special place because of the specificity of training specialists to counter military threats. In the first part, the author presents the evolution of threats to national security as a Contribution to the scientific development of the Military Technical Academy. In the second and third part article presents the considerations in relation to the place and role of the Military Technical Academy in the education system . In addition, it shows the structure of organizational a competence necessary for the training of candidates for the first officer rank in the Polish Armed Forces. The result is undertaken subject requests and demands and directions of change in the system of training of specialists for the needs of the Polish Armed Forces.
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In the academic literature, the transformation of the institutions, roles, and processes related to national security, addressed at a sub-state level of analysis, has traditionally been a less prominent area of study, especially if compared to the weight of international security and the external behaviour of states. However, the need to understand the security-related issues from the internal environment of states has led, especially in the last three decades, to the emergence of several concepts and approaches that have also addressed additional levels of analysis and topics such as human security or the transformation of the security field in states in transition. The concept of security sector reform, which refers to this last topic, developed during the 1990s. Despite its already long history, the concept is still prone to shortcomings and may be subject to further development. The aim of this paper is to briefly analyse its meaning, as well as its limits and prospects for development, in order to provide an additional contribution to a better understanding of the underdeveloped area of security studies addressed through it. The study relies upon examples from the recent past of the Romanian security sector.
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The goal of this article is to investigate the reasons why Caucasus (Russia origin) fighters have moved to Levant region and joined to DAESH. The research is conducted through an extensive literature review and content analysis of websites related to DAESH. The research findings indicate at least six significant variables motivated the fighters from Russia to join DAESH. These are (1) Russia’s “laissez jihad” politics, (2) the sense of helplessness and the idea of helping Muslims in difficult conditions, (3) the conjuncture and Emir (leader) factor, (4) “five star jihad” aphorism, (5) social networks and individual reasons, (6) the intermediary role of social media, digital technology and propaganda”. It is evaluated that the findings and conclusions of the research may contribute both the policymakers in the formation of security policies and the current academic literature.
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In a instantly changing combat environment, combat space needs cannot be postponed and should be supplied timely. One of the consequences of providing all kinds of needs precisely in the battle field is Private Military Company (PMC) formation. Having a role as an important actor in the supply and demand balance of the battlefield, PMCs also appear as an important instrument in the Defense Management of countries. Since PMCs have completed critical missing parts of the battlefields with a wide range of organizational structures and objectives, they have become a topic of discussion and examination in the international arena. This article is based on an analysis from a comparative historical perspective. Two different reader groups were targeted with this study. The first group has been determined as those who are academically interested in defense management, security policies and international relations, and need situational awareness about PMCs. The second group; those who are in the decision-making bodies of the PMCs and who want to take part in or invest in this field have been identified. In order to cover these two target groups, a projection from the past to the future was made. Within the framework of historical development process and definition, service function areas, legal status, the tendency to use it according to the needs of the war in its own ecosystem and technological developments in the near future, possible uses and inferences were made about the use of the PMCs.
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War Ships and as the backbone of the world’s seaborne trade, merchant ships may be subject to similar threats of Maritime IEDs. From a maritime security perspective, the best way to increase situational awareness at seas and ports is to assess the current threats and to foresee future ones.When the methods used by terrorist organizations are examined, it is seen that the Maritime IED attacks are not the daily threats due to the characteristics of the marine environment, but the losses and loss of life could be big if this threat is ignored. As a result of the successful attacks carried out by terrorist organizations, it was understood that they have been working on improving themselves in maritime attacks. Thus, the activities carried out by terrorist organizations should be closely monitored and necessary precautions must be taken, especially as they may have negative effects on commercial maritime traffic.In this study, general information about the “Maritime Security” is given and the concept of Maritime IED is explained in detail. The new Maritime IED’s which are encountered in the maritime environment was examined. In the light of these maritime IED’s and the developing maritime technologies, was tried to find answers to what kind of Maritime IED’s could be encountered in the future.
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The Problem setting. General globalization processes on the European continent and the aggressive actions of individual States caused a radical revision of the system of ensuring national security of Ukraine, which transformed in the direction of Euro-Atlantic integration. Dramatic geopolitical changes of the last decade, the military-political confrontation with the Russian Federation radically transformed the whole organization of international relations established after the Second world war. Therefore, the problem of ensuring national security is our country in modern conditions a special, unprecedented, value. Recent research and publications analysis. The availability of scientific publications allows us to conclude that the research of the designated problems is carried out mainly within the framework of political and economic science. Attempts holistic philosophical understanding of the nature and determinants of the direction of development of Ukrainian society in the Euro-Atlantic area are insufficient. Paper objective. The purpose of this article is to attempt a philosophical understanding of the need for Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine in the context of ensuring its national security. Paper main body. Ukraine is becoming a more active player in international relations due to its geopolitical position. Modern Ukraine plays an extremely important role in the development of political and economic cooperation on the European continent and in adjacent areas, providing in conditions of extreme military and information aggressive activity of Russia regional stability and security. For Ukraine, the issue of Euro-Atlantic choice is not rhetorical. History cites many vivid examples that clearly demonstrate that their historical-cultural and mental sources Ukraine has always belonged to the transatlantic space. In the foreign policy priorities of our state, this selection occupies a special place. The modern foreign political course of Ukraine for Euro-Atlantic integration implies the desire to become part of the most efficient and effective collective security system, with clear guarantees of their own security. The intensification of European integration processes means more intensive inclusion of Ukraine in international cooperation for conflict and counter the latest threats in the security sphere. The main directions of ensuring national security in the sphere of international cooperation is integration into the international system of security and cooperation on prevention of illegal actions in the sphere of security. The article highlights how obvious the prospects and benefits of Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine and its possible risks and threats to national security. Conclusions of the research. Despite the fact that a full-fledged member of the Euro-Atlantic space in the short and even medium term, Ukraine will not be able to become, it can significantly increase cooperation with the countries of the West, which will greatly enhance her chances and accelerate the pace of integration. The course of Euro-Atlantic integration is not limited to declarations and statements. This is a concrete, planned, multi-faceted activity. Being interconnected and interdependent, the problems of security and development of modern society require a comprehensive study because of their joint decisions determine the future as a separate country and humanity in General.
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Problem setting. Significant changes in various spheres of life and development of our country influence the updating, reforming and modernization of the national higher education system, which aims at improving the quality of the provision of educational services. In turn, the existing system of military education in Ukraine is integrated with the general state system of education and operates on the basis of the current legislative and regulatory framework. etc.Recent research and publications analysis. Conceptual principles of formation of the national education system in the context of European integration of Ukraine are represented by the works of A. Boyko, M. Kultayeva, M. Trinyak, V. Shinkaruk and others. Scientists insist that there should be a single mechanism for the modern modernization of the national higher education system and military education in particular. Theoretical and methodological aspects of the formation of national military education, the problems of its modernization and reformation, the quality of training of military specialists, the introduction into the educational process of innovative technologies and modern teaching and training practices are considered in the studies of such scholars as Kvitkin P, V. Osodlo, V. Telelim, and others.Paper objective. The purpose of the article is to philosophically analyze and highlight the main aspects of modernizing and reforming the national military education system. Paper main body. First of all, reforming is bringing the political, financial, economic and public institutions of the state into conformity with some "generally recognized norms", such as those of the European Union, for example. At the same time, modernization is the bringing of various spheres of life, and in particular the education of the country into a competitive state in accordance with the requirements of the present. Reformation can be considered a necessary prerequisite for modernization. And modernization, therefore, is a natural consequence of reform.Under the circumstances of the current challenges that present-day Ukraine faces and the armed conflict in the East, the issues of reforming and modernizing the content of the national higher education system become especially urgent. This is a complex, important task. It includes various aspects: modernization of the educational management system, the combination of education and science, etc. The main components of the military education system are: education management bodies; a network of military education institutions (universities, academies, military institutes, including civilian universities, etc.). We suppose that the urgent need for modernization shifts in military education institutions is the conceptual change in all activities. Conclusions of the research. At the present stage of development of power and special structures of the state there is a significant change in the requirements of society for the competencies that a military specialist should possess, and thus the requirements for filling the content of the national education system and the military education system in particular are changing. All this leads to the updating and the process of reforming and modernizing the national education and military education system as interconnected phenomena. All the above mentioned is due to the needs of practice, the complication of our country's military-political situation, the Euro-Atlantic vector of our country's integration, and other challenges of today.
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Problem setting. In the present conditions, information security is an important component of national security of the state as a whole system. During the "hybrid wars", information security issues become especially relevant. In recent years, our country has faced a variety of threats, including those which aimed at the information and communication sphere.Recent research and publications analysis. The problem of information security of the Ukrainian society in condition of the "hybrid war" has been covered in a number of publications. In particular, authors of a thorough study, edited by V. Gorbulin, showed the multifaceted nature of phenomenon of the “hybrid war” and revealed its characteristic features and peculiarities. The systematic understanding of the essence of information security and information threats at the present stage of national state formation is presented in the scientific works of O. Danilian, O. Dzoban, Y. Kalynovsky, E. Manuilov and others. In its turn, G. Shevchenko reflects on the interconnection of information and spiritual security, identifying major threats of value, mental and cultural nature.Paper objective. The purpose of our scientific research is identifying the major threats and challenges to the information security of Ukrainian society in the “hybrid war”.Paper main body. One of the main means of conducting a "hybrid war" is the so-called information weapon, which in its effectiveness and consequences poses a significant threat to any state involved in hybrid confrontation, particularly for Ukraine. It should be noted that information weapons are especially effective against a country in crisis, where the public consciousness is dominated by value ambivalence, socio-political uncertainty. The use of information weapons becomes especially effective when there is a confrontation between political forces in the state, there is a crisis of moral and legal consciousness, and a weak patriotic elite in all spheres of public life. Understanding the information security should include not only the protection of information resources of society, the state and individual, but also the retention of valuable aspects of historical memory, cultural traditions, specific national and the ethnic way of life of Ukrainian people. In this context, researchers talk about protection of the informational sovereignty of our country, the understanding of which absorbs the legal, political, value-cultural, security and information processes in the country.Conclusions of the research. Thus, present threats to the information security of Ukrainian society in condition of the "hybrid war" have multidirectional nature and appeared in communication, technical, value, political, legal, socio-economic and other spheres. The existence of these threats is caused by both external negative influences and internal instability factors.
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Information is an effective means of warfare. In the context of hybridization of military strategies, it must be recognized as one of the most powerful, and perhaps even the only profitable, means (there is no need to spend money to buy equipment and keep the military). A negative information impact, aimed at undermining the morale of the army and the patriotic sentiment of the population, can do much more damage to the state than a numerically and technically stronger enemy army. The main illustrative material in the article is the hybrid war between Russia and Ukraine. The events of the Euromaidan, the Revolution of Dignity, the annexation of Crimea and the escalation of violence in the Donbas, which grew into a full-scale armed conflict, demonstrate that this hybrid war is not so much about the occupation of Ukrainian territories as the desire to undermine the governance structure in the state from within, to suppress the will of the Ukrainians to resist.
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In this article the author analyzes the main documents adopted by the Kremlin administration in the last decade: the National Security Strategy of the Russian Federation until 2020 (2009), Military Doctrine(2014), the National Security Strategy of 2015. The main objective of these documents is the Moscow`s desire to be recognized as a great world power, which posseses the necessary capabilities to ensure strategic stability worldwide.
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The beginning of the new millennia has brought a new international political era having like a central spot the security of a future world. Today, the technological development, the new concepts regarding the military operations, the geo-spatial and nuclear weapons, the socio-economic interests, the religious or political convictions, all of these compose a new scene of the human confrontations known as hybrid - wars. On the context, the intelligence community needs a new approach and new foundations that implies a new role of the intelligence analyst.
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