This article describes the theoretical concept of constitutional change. The cases of constitutional changes and amendments since 1989 have been analyzed in the text. The historical approach is used as a background for the current Polish events conceptualization.
The theories formulated by Y. Raznai, R. Albert, B. Ackermann, S. Griffin, D. Landau are applied for purpose of the analysis. The authors consider the problems of: constitutional change, constitutional amendment and dismemberment, constitutional moment, as well as a kind of constitutionalism, which is connected to an abuse of power by the parliamentary majority (illiberal constitutionalism).
This paper analyses following issues: the conceptualization of constitutional amendment procedure and constitutional change in formal and informal ways as well as the constitutional moment. Moreover, the Polish academia opinions on the amendment and change are presented. Eventually, the identification of the recent Polish systemic events from a theoretical perspective and the summary of the research are provided.
The assessment of current events takes into account the historical background – the transformation started in 1989 and ended with the adoption of the 1997 Constitution. The conclusion is connected to identification of the constitutional moments which legitimize or not the transformation of the system.

The organized crime in Poland after 1989 – Pruszkow and Wolomin

The collapse of the Eastern Bloc in 1989 has led to meaningful social, political and economic transformations. The destabilization of polish country, during changes in political system, started the development of the organized crime, abusing the authority and investigative authorities’ weakness. The 90’s are the greatest time of two, coming from Warsaw, groups, which managed to subordinate the whole criminal country – Pruszkow and Wolomin. The “mafia decade” of Pruszkow and Wolomin is the time of: earning enormous fortune, spectacular events and extremely bloody war, carrying a huge number of victims. 90’s is also the time of using experience in creating effective system of fighting against organized crime. Introducing in 1997 the term of crown witness – “apologetic criminal” became the decisive moment. Spectacular end of Pruszkow was the effect of the statement of crown witness – gangsters aggravating their cooperatives. It is all mostly about Jaroslaw Sokolowski, nickname “Masa”. His statement appeared crucial during investigations at the most important members of Pruszkow’s group. Sokolowski`s “flawlessness” as a crown witness, is not clear, in spite 20 years lasted from mentioned incident. The case of Pruszkow and Wolomin presents the danger for country`s safety, what comes from the side of organized crime, during political transformation.

System Models of the Capital of Poland and Selected European Union Countries

Regulations concerning the position, status and model of functioning of capitals in European countries have not been unified. Both Poland and other European Union countries use their own, autonomous solutions. It is a fact that there are a lot of similarities in this area, but nevertheless they do not have formal, legal, regulatory or directive conditions. The many similarities have historical or geopolitical roots. A number of regulations are also related to the care for the stability of legal solutions, the organizational stability of the state and international bodies and institutions. The conducted analysis allows, however, to distinguish three main organizational models, which have certain advantages, but also negative management and organizational aspects.

Morality as crucial systemic operation in the theory of Niklas Luhmann

Morality in the systems theory of Niklas Luhmann has a special place as a formula that enables communication, in other words functioning of the mechanism of the self-processing. Over the centuries this role in the system has evolved and today morality faces utterly new challenges. Will she still fulfill her commitments in the face of crisis of current values? Do we need new standards of behaviour in an era of progressive complexity?

System-based research remains an important yet usually outdated and internally contradictory approach in political science and international relations. Based on concepts borrowed from physiology, cybernetics, and general system theory, the system-based approach popularised in the 1960s was cast away as outdated and ill-focused. Despite those systems, the theory was developed in natural sciences, eventually creating a paradigm more applicable to domestic and international politics. The weakest element of past systems (like the one proposed by D. Easton) was that they did not allow for a sudden and catastrophic transformation and lacked emergence. This paper aims to present a model that would allow for the system’s ordinary and catastrophic transformation. The complex adaptive system features were defined using relevant literature on a paradigm of complexity. Connecting it with the propositions of D. Easton, R. Axelrod, and M. Cohen, as well as R. Jervis, such a model was constructed. The theoretical introduction is supplanted with a general case study of the early phases of the Arab Spring in Tunisia. The model mirrors the complex systems’ dynamics, considering the agent-structure problem.

Security on the eastern border of Poland in the face of modern cross-border threats

Modern threats are a multidimensional problem, in addition to the old and well-known, there are constantly new, dynamically changing security environments. The grounds for security threats are diverse and evolve along with the development of international relations, changes in the interests of the state and its position on the international arena. The aggressive, imperial policy of the Russian Federation is an example of this and contributes to instability in the region and seriously threatens the sovereignty of neighboring countries. Guaranteeing the security of the Polish border (especially the eastern – external of European Union) is a serious challenge and must be constantly adapted to the changing threats occurring in times of peace, crisis, and also in times of war. The author characterizes the contemporary security environment of Poland and the accompanying cross-border threats, presents the process of shaping the EU external border security system together with the current situation of the security management of the Polish state border. It also draws conclusions that the state border must still be in the center of interest of the state authorities and indicates that as a result of the current external threat to the state, there is a need to improve the cooperation of services and institutions responsible for the security of the state border in the national and international dimension.

THE POWER OF NATIONAL PARLIAMENTS TO MAKE AND INTERPRET EUROPEAN UNION RULES. FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

The scientific aim of the article is to identify the principles relating to the power of national parliaments in the European Union system. The research problem is the analysis of the process of establishing and interpreting rules by national parliaments, examined using functional analysis. The research argument here is based on the theoretical perspective of neorealism and refers to the rules of competence influencing the further functioning of the European Union. In terms of research results, the article answers questions about the consequences of strengthening the competences of national parliaments in terms of setting and interpreting the principles of the European Union. The originality and relevance of the problem contained in the article is based on the empirical belief that the expanding power of national parliaments in the EU directly affects the quality and legitimacy of the decision-making process by the EU institutions.