SPIS TREŚCI / CONTENTS / ЗМІСТ

Public Diplomacy of the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan in Ireland

Public diplomacy serves as an indispensable tool of soft power, enabling states to influence the international community through the appeal of their culture, values, and policies. This practice is primarily carried out by government institutions, including ministries of foreign affairs, diplomatic and consular missions, and sectoral ministries. Additionally, representatives of the diaspora often play a key role, facilitating communication with the political and cultural elites of target countries, advocating for the interests of their homeland, and fostering intercultural connections with the public in their countries of origin. Effective public diplomacy relies significantly on a state’s ability to engage, including through its embassies, with members of its diaspora communities. This study examines the role of the Embassy of Pakistan in Ireland in strengthening bilateral relations through public diplomacy. Using a case study approach, the research analyses the embassy’s activities in 2023–2024 to identify the primary tools of Pakistani public diplomacy in Ireland. The embassy actively engages in cultural exchanges, educational programs, and digital diplomacy to enhance mutual understanding and collaboration. Historical contexts and shifts in political landscapes are adapted to strengthen cultural ties and advance economic interests. The analysis highlights the effectiveness of the embassy’s public diplomacy, focusing on initiatives, diverse cultural events, and educational exchanges that foster integration and cooperation between Pakistan and Ireland.

Financing and reconstruction of post-Teutonic castles after World War II. Nidzica, Kętrzyn, Giżycko – a selection of sources

The article presents the state of preservation of selected Teutonic castles after World War II, as a basis for considering the financing and restoration of several of them. Conservation and archival documentation is analyzed, supplemented by excerpts from interviews with former provincial conservationist Lucjan Czubiel. The role of the conservation office in the restoration of the castles was discussed, as well as the activities of the Monument Conservation Workshop. As a result of the research, it was possible to answer the questions: what were the difficulties of the Polish state in rebuilding these huge historic buildings? Why were these, and not other, objects chosen for funding? What procedures had to be met? What factors determined the effectiveness of the reconstruction and for what purposes were the castles used?

Human dignity and its threats in socio-moral teaching of Pope Benedict XVI

In the considerations contained in this article, we will pay special attention to the socio-moral teaching of Pope Benedict XVI on the dignity of the human person as a fundamental value and to situations that threaten human dignity in all areas of human life. One may even get the impression that anything that merits moral disapproval (morally reprehensible acts) is treated as a violation of human dignity or as insulting to human dignity. This may be due to the firm approval of the dignity that every human being possesses. This dignity – regardless of the historical and social context – must not be diminished or destroyed, on the contrary, it should be respected and protected. Also, economic, social, political and cultural life should be shaped in such a way that man can find his dignity and be able to realize it, but man, even humiliated, does not lose his dignity, he is still the image of God.

Economic Diplomacy of the Ukrainian World Congress as a Factor of Support for Ukraine (1991–2021)

In the scientific article, the author attempts to highlight the peculiarities of the forms and mechanisms of economic diplomacy of the Ukrainian World Congress (the UWC) as a factor of economic support for Ukraine in 1991–2021. A number of general and special scientific research methods were used to study this problem. Reports and materials of Congresses (conventions), annual reports and materials of collections of annual reports, the official website of the UWC, etc. were analysed. The author emphasizes that issues of economic development of Ukraine have been a priority for the UWC since its declaration of independence and in the future. At the same time, the ways of economic support of Ukraine as the main coordinating superstructure of Ukrainian communities in the world were different. Establishing cooperation for economic support of Ukraine is outlined in the Memorandum between the UWC and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine that was signed in 2020. Based on a study of the activities of the World Council of Ukrainian Cooperatives and the Economic Prosperity and Investment Committee (EPIC), the article shows how the UWC, as a coordinator of actions of Ukrainians abroad, together with Ukrainian communities in the world, has contributed to the recovery of the credit cooperative movement in Ukraine and works to increase Ukrainian investment attractiveness among foreign audiences. A separate and important form of support for Ukraine’s economic growth for the UWC is the development of interaction between the diaspora and migrants and Ukraine. For this purpose, the organization conducts thematic events to raise awareness about Ukraine, actively cooperates with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), other public organizations. It was concluded that the economic diplomacy of the UWC to support Ukraine is systematic and productive. It was noted that the UWC can play the role of a “bridge” for establishing cooperation between Ukraine and the foreign community, in particular in the direction of attracting investments.

Periodicals of the Ziegelmasch displaced persons camp in Godenau as sources on the history of Ukrainian emigration in postwar Germany

The article analyses the sources of the „Information Sheet” and „Information newssheet” of the Ziegelmasch camp in Godenau with the purpose of covering the history of Ukrainian emigration and technical information of the source. The study showed that the „Information Sheet” of the Ziegelmasch camp was a typical periodical of the DP era, which was intended to inform campers about events in the world and in Ukraine as a whole. The source allows us to learn about the structure of the Ziegelmasch camp, events in it, the establishment of the camp in Alfeld and its relocation to Godenau. The reason for the creation of the „Information Sheet” was the elections in the Ziegelmasch camp in early 1947, which were held in response to the disregard for the previous elections due to violations of the electoral process. Although the main task of the „Information Sheet” was to provide information about the elections in the camp, the majority of the information relates not so much to the process as to the discussions about the elections among various members of the camp community. Based on a study of all currently known surviving copies of the „Information Sheet” and the „Information newssheet”, it can be concluded that the Ziegelmasch camp in Godenau, despite its small size compared to other camps in the British occupation zone, had a significant level of cultural life, which confirms the functioning of the” Information newssheet” as a permanent information resource of the camp, as well as the „Information Sheet” published at the time of the elections.

Visions of external and internal security in the political thought of peasant parties in the Second Polish Republic

Polish political thought of the interwar period basically focused on the achievements of two political camps: the right-wing one centered around National Democracy and its leader Roman Dmowski, and the Belvedere camp led by Jozef Pilsudski. The other political currents, except for the extremes, presented less comprehensive concepts of state and regional security, and both external and internal security. All serious political currents, excluding the extreme and nationalist ones, were united by the desire to fight for Poland’s national security. The unfavorable geopolitical position of the country and the threat coming from the two strongest neighbors (Germany, the USSR) were demonstrated. High hopes were attached to the idea of collective security, in particular, the activities of the League of Nations or regional agreements. The dangers to Poland’s internal security arising from the nationality structure of society (about one-third are national minorities and a large part of them living in compact clusters), social differentiation, including material poverty (the influence of extreme ideologies), district differences (the effect of partitions), and political divisions, were seen as great for Poland’s internal security.