Poland’s space policy in statu nascendi

The purpose of the article is to analyze the actions of Polish authorities regarding the creation of the Polish space policy. Activity in space in the twentieth century and development of cooperation with international organizations were presented. Bilateral agreements and the possibility of new forms of action were analyzed as well as private entities as co-creators of space policy. Tasks in the process of creating the Polish space policy, the division of competences, the use of optional programmes were indicated. There is also a presentation of management reforms,financing through the selection of several levels of action and adopting the hierarchy of key tasks for the state, to ensure effective implementation of the assumed projects.

Peculiarities of the soft power policy in Europe

The aim of this paper is to describe peculiarities of the soft power as a political phenomenon and to provide an overview of its application by European countries. The specific focus of this paper concerns the role of culture as a powerful means of the country’s image promotion throughout the world. Moreover the paper reviews the activities of the European cultural institutions as an crucial element of the soft power policy.

W polskim dyskursie naukowym pojęcie polityki sportowej jest bardzo rzadko stosowane. Brak jednej obligatoryjnej definicji jest przede wszystkim konsekwencją nie do końca określonego charakteru zaangażowania się państwa w obszar sportu. Z kolei w Wielkiej Brytanii, państwach skandynawskich, Kanadzie i Niemczech bardzo mocno eksponuje się jej odrębny charakter, nie neguje się jej pojęcia, umiejscowienia ani przydatności społecznej. Określa się ją tam jako jeden z elementów polityki społecznej. Prowadzone są nawet dyskusje dotyczące włączenia polityki sportowej do zdefiniowanych kategorii polityk publicznych. W związku z tym głównym celem artykułu jest wprowadzenia do polskiego dyskursu naukowego pojęcia polityki sportowej, przedstawienia jej cech oraz problemów definicyjnych.

Artykuł przedstawia ideę i ruch kooperatyzmu w dziewiętnastowiecznych Niemczech. Autorka wskazuje na inspirację tego ruchu sytuacją społeczno-ekonomiczną tamtego czasu oraz poprzedzającym go ruchem spółdzielczym w Wielkiej Brytanii i we Francji. W Niemczech dominującą formą kooperatyw były banki ludowe Hermanna Schulze-Delitzsch oraz wiejskie kasy pożyczkowo-oszczędnościowe Friedricha Wilhelma Raiffeisena. Autorka koncentruje się na ideowym ich uzasadnieniu oraz na ich odrębnościach wynikających z zakresu działalności oraz form organizacyjnych. Podejmuje także kwestię stawianych celów społecznych ruchu spółdzielczego. Nie jest jej obojętna także rola polityczna obu typów kooperatyw, zwłaszcza w kontekście narodowościowym. W tym ostatnim wypadku zwraca uwagę na rolę spółdzielczości na ziemiach polskich pozostających w zaborze pruskim.

Russia's hostile actions against the Estonian state structures take the form of soft power, which can be observed in such areas as the activities of the Russian-speaking minority, media coverage, or through the use of coercion when it comes to fuel sales. This article presents qualitative methods of measuring Russian influence on Estonia. An observable trend in international relations is replacing hard power with soft power, commonly used against states within the sphere of interest of certain geopolitical entities. It is more difficult to identify the latter and prove it results from an aggressor's deliberate actions. Information warfare, including disinformation and propaganda, is one of the means Russia uses to exert political influence. By accepting the offer of a political and military alliance with the Western world, the Baltic States have become a threat to the Kremlin's imperialist aspirations. Russia's direct military actions against Estonia and the other Baltic states would have provoked a strong reaction and could even have led to military confrontation. However, the Russian government wishes to avoid it and, for the time being, limits itself to soft power measures.

The Obesity Phenomenon in Saudi Arabia and the Monarch’s Prerogative of King Salman. Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

The paper presents obesity noticeable in Saudi Arabia. The historical and present condition is indicated, as well as the forecast for the following years. It shows what political instruments the Saudi king currently has in the fight against this phenomenon and what were the political movements of previous kings in this matter.

Museum as a Medium of Collective Memory. The Case of Sarajevo

This article explores the relationships between memory politics and museums. It shows the institutionalisation of the past, which supports both the creation of historical narratives and the visibility of national identity. Analysing the Sarajevo museums dedicated to the 1992–1995 war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the author shows how contemporary institutions have become carriers of collective memory and incubators of the national identity of Bosnian Muslims.

In the revolts epicentre

The Author presents the main reasons for the revolt of 1916 and the different points of view on these events.

Security as a policy tool in the Republic of China

The purpose of this article is to explore ‚Security’ as a policy tool in the Republic of China. Defense policy of the ‚Middle Kingdom’ [China] is an inseparable element of China’s foreign policy. Increased spending on militarization raises questions about the intentions of China’s foreign policy. It is worth noting that the ‚Middle Kingdom’ belongs to the group of world powers military, but China’s foreign policy largely determines its political and military force in the world and in the macro-region of the state of China. The limited communications and lack of mutual understanding of reality between Beijing and the United States cause unreasonable security concerns. On the basis of the content analyzed herein, one can conclude that the ‚Middle Kingdom’ strives to to become a superpower while increasing its army. The ambition for further militarization stems from a desire to gain greater prestige in the international arena and to ensure internal security and economic development.

Disabled People in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Yesterday and Today

The paper indicates the historical and contemporary case of people with disabilities in one of the richest countries in the world, Saudi Arabia. From the very beginning (September 1932), Saudi Arabia has remembered, supported, and financed the rehabilitation of disabled people with various life dysfunctions. Year by year, the situation of people with disabilities has been improving, thanks to extensive rehabilitation and education programmes for educating children with disabilities.

The Reform of the Chinese State Security System

With Xi Jinping’s assumption of power in China, large-scale reforms of the entire state system have begun in this country, especially those related to broadly understood security. The aim is to improve the functioning of the Chinese state in the 21st century and ensure its position as a world leader. It is also important that in the reform of the national security system, the Chinese state leadership paid attention not only to this system’s basic elements, i.e., the army and the police, but also to the rule of law and social and environmental security. Such a broad approach to the issue of national security proves strategic thinking as well as understanding and considering the processes taking place in the contemporary world.

Maritime policy and economy in the context of the activities of the Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company

The article concerns the issue of Chinese-Polish economic cooperation in the maritime sector shown on the example of the Chinese-Polish Joint Stock Shipping Company. The article focuses on the factors that contributed to the establishment of business contacts and how the cooperation between the countries has developed over the more than 70 years of the company’s existence. It shows both the benefits that resulted from the cooperation and the political difficulties that the company’s existence generated. The article presents the operating principles of the company and the areas of joint activity are described in detail. In addition, the current state of Chinese-Polish economic relations is presented mainly through the prism of the company’s operation.