The China-US rivalry takes place on many areas. In this article, attention is focused primarily on the technological area that plays the largest role during the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19). In addition, scientific and technical progress is crucial for maintaining an advantage over other countries. A useful concept for the analysis is the rivalry of the powers allows to answer the research question: what is the coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), which is currently taking place in the world, potential to contribute to China’s predominance in the race of powers with the US? The study uses a qualitative analysis of available sources and focuses, among others, on the case of Wuhan, which became the focus of a pandemic. Modern technologies used in China, allowed to slow down the spread of the virus in a relatively short time. Result: Based on the analysis, it can be assumed that China has accelerated work on artificial intelligence, which may be one of the key factors for gaining a predominance over the US in the power rivalry.

Saudi Arabia: Stories of Selected Epidemics and Royal Prerogative in the Fight against Coronavirus

In the text, the author presents shows a short history of epidemics that took place in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and also discusses political decisions and a possible fight with epidemic of coronavirus. After analyzing the most important sources and information on the topic of coronavirus, the author proposes a thesis that Saudi Arabia is ready for an epidemic of coronavirus diseases.

Hindu-Muslim Relations in Times of Coronavirus

The history of Hindu-Muslim conflicts in India is century-long. Ever mounting hostility of Hindus has been the primary reason why Muslim minorities in India have fallen victim to the increasing levels of systemic violence. COVID-19 has undergone another dangerous mutation and took Islamophobia to the whole new level. Instead of uniting in the face of danger, we are observing the growing social divisions on the Hindu-Muslim line and the galloping increase in distrust between the two. Are Muslims terrorists who are engaged in jihād using the virus as a weapon? Such superficial judgement is not in the interest of anyone. Nuanced understanding of the novel witch-hunt against Muslims is essential before jumping to any hasty conclusion. The present study aims to explore the consequences of the pandemic for Muslim communities in India, as well as conspiracy theories such as corona jihād, bio jihād, love jihād or population jihād that began to flourish amid the coronavirus crisis.

At the beginning 2020, the vast majority of countries worldwide were forced to confront and face the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. The rapid spread of this new disease resulted in radical changes in the basic principles of the functioning and organization of states and entire societies. The novel circumstances which both nation states and the international community are facing induce reflection on the need of redefining the right to privacy. This paper aims to answer, whether the current situation will lead to lasting changes in the way privacy is now perceived in Europe and what threats may be associated with the possible changes.

Intermarium is one of the most important Polish geopolitical concepts. This article considers it within the category of militant democracy. It allows to explore the process of militant democracy, that is, introducing restrictions by legal means. Most restrictions have recently been introduced due to a coronavirus pandemic. Therefore, the article undertakes to examine the potential for implementation of the concept of the Intermarium during the pandemic and shortly after its end. The study uses a qualitative analysis of sources. Indicators relevant to the study of the process of militant democracy were distinguished based on the body of literature. Results: The traditional concept of the Intermarium erodes due to natural causes. Currently, Poland is more inclined to the concept of the Three Seas. In addition, in the face of the analysis that was carried out, it seems that in a pandemic situation we are observing the end of the paradigm of liberal democracy in this case.

The author describes the development of COVID-19 disease in Rwanda. He paid special attention to the measures taken by the government to minimize the spread of the virus. These measures, although key factors in the effective management of the health crisis, have far-reaching social and economic consequences.

Artykuł omawia wpływ katastrofy czarnobylskiej na rozpad Związku Radzieckiego. Energetyka jądrowa miała być ukoronowaniem osiągnięć radzieckiej nauki i techniki. Czarnobyl skompromitował jednak sektor atomowy i podważył autorytet czołowych uczonych. Katastrofa i utajnienie przez Moskwę informacji na jej temat doprowadziły do erozji zaufania do władz i nauki jako takiej. Jednocześnie głasnost sprzyjała rozprzestrzenianiu informacji i plotek na temat katastrofy. Zaniepokojenie stanem środowiska i troska o zdrowie stały się nośnymi hasłami ruchów niepodległościowych. Oburzeni zaniedbaniami po katastrofie byli zwłaszcza Ukraińcy, którzy w 1991 r. zagłosowali za secesją z ZSRR.

Współcześnie temat pandemii wirusa SARS-CoV-2 zdominował światową prasę. Jednak problem wirusa w Afryce, jeszcze w lutym 2020 r. był w zasadzie pomijany w prasie zachodniej. Natomiast w tym samym czasie można było dostrzec coraz rosnące zainteresowanie prasy afrykańskiej tym problemem. Działo się tak, ponieważ w Afryce stosunkowo późno, w porównaniu z innymi kontynentami, zaczęto odnotowywać pierwsze zakażenia. Ze względu na szybkie rozprzestrzenianie się wirusa w świecie, 11 marca 2020 r. Światowa Organizacja Zdrowia ogłosiła stan pandemii. W początkowej fazie w Afryce, między innymi ze względu na małą ilość prowadzonych testów, nie odnotowywano takiej skali zakażeń jak w innych częściach świata, co nie oznacza, że sytuacja na kontynencie była lepsza. Celem artykułu będzie analiza sytuacji i problemów związanych z rozprzestrzenianiem się pandemii w Afryce. Na przykładzie wybranych państw autorka oceni ich przygotowanie i stosunek do walki z pandemią.

The author analyzes a number of issues regarding the impact of Covid-19 on societies in Africa, Asia, the USA and Europe. Author describes the expanded of the coronavirus and the effects of the pandemic. Particular attention is paid to analyzes economic, political, social and psychosocial problems of selected countries.

The scientific article covers the problem of the digital transformation impact on the state, individuals, business and society in Russia and the world. An overview of the concept of «digital economy» by leading world experts is given. The authors concluded that, despite all the positive aspects of the transition to the digital economy, the market faces many risks. All of this affects national and global security.

Przedmiotem mojego zainteresowania jest przedstawienie najważniejszych uwarunkowań i implikacji charakteryzujących relacje chińsko- -południowokoreańskie za rządów Xi Jinpinga na płaszczyźnie politycznej i ekonomicznej. Celem moich rozważań będzie opisanie aktualnego stanu rzeczy we wzajemnych stosunkach oraz próba przeanalizowania, jak relacje obu podmiotów będą wpływać na konfigurację międzynarodową systemu bezpieczeństwa na terenie Azji Wschodniej. Na wstępie niniejszego studium prześledzę historię wzajemnych relacji za czasów zimnej wojny i proces normalizacji stosunków. Następnie przeanalizuję kontakty na linii Chiny–Republika Korei od 2013 r. i objęcia przez Xi Jinpinga oraz Parka Geun-hye sterów władzy w swoich krajach, skupiając się na najistotniejszym wówczas dla obustronnych związków problemie programu nuklearnego Korei Północnej. Niezwykle ważnym zagadnieniem w niniejszym tekście jest poruszenie kwestii zainstalowania na terenie Korei Południowej amerykańskiego systemu przeciwrakietowego THAAD w lipcu 2016 r., co doprowadziło do pogorszenia się relacji między Chinami a Republiką Korei, gdyż chiński rząd potraktował ten krok jako zagrożenia dla bezpieczeństwa ChRL. Istotnym punktem moich rozważań będzie także znaczenie rywalizacji amerykańsko-chińskiej dla kontaktów między rządami obu omawianych w tekście krajów azjatyckich. W dalszej części opisuję kontakty Pekin–Seul po wybuchu epidemii koronawirusa na przełomie 2019 i 2020 r. Dodatkowo poruszam także problem powiązań ekonomicznych obu państw. W podsumowaniu chciałbym odpowiedzieć na pytanie, czy w przyszłości należy spodziewać się intensyfikacji stosunków Pekin–Seul. Zamierzam stwierdzić, jak przybierająca na sile rywalizacja na linii Stany Zjednoczone–Chiny może przyczynić się do modyfikacji priorytetów dyplomacji południowokoreańskiej.

COVID-19 and the legislative process – meetings of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland of the 9th term

The article is an attempt to determine to what extent the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic dominated the deliberations of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland during the year from its occurrence. The beginning of the analysis was determined by the day on which the issue of the pandemic was first raised at the parliamentary session (i.e. March 2nd, 2020). According to the hypothesis, at least 50% of the issues raised during the parliamentary sessions will concern aspects related to the fight against the coronavirus. The analysis showed that the topic of the COVID-19 pandemic accounted for slightly more than 20% of all issues. The study was conducted using content analysis.

The ban on assemblies in Poland during the epidemic and criminal liability

During the 16 months of the epidemic threat, and then the state of the epidemic, the executive authority introduced restrictive restrictions in the area of freedom of assembly, periodically forbidding them completely. Regardless of the bans introduced, during the indicated period, there were numerous protests and demonstrations triggered by the lockdown, government policy or the judgment of the Constitutional Tribunal of October 22, 2020. The author tries to answer the question whether the bans and restrictions introduced by the executive met the constitutional standard, and if not, whether the behavior of organizers or participants of assemblies constituting the implementation of their constitutional freedoms could fulfill the criteria of specific offenses or crimes. For this purpose, the author analyzes, inter alia, judgments of common courts, as well as the judgment of the Supreme Court of July 1, 2021.

Distance education during the COVID-19 pandemic in the experiences of Polish students: everyday life and a vision of school’s future

Our project was conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic. 1955 students from Polish schools participated in the study. The aim was to detect school experiences of children, adolescents and young adults. The results show the lack of digital hygiene, but also the respondents’ general satisfaction with the distance learning and their including its elements in the vision of the school of the future. The differences in the experiences of boys and girls and of the learners in rural and urban areas are a premise for the interpretation of the obtained results in the direction of deepening the previously existing inequalities associated with distance learning.

The article recounts the changes in the security perception of Poles after the outbreak of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Upon utilisation of comparative empirical research carried out in 2020 and 2021, using the diagnostic survey method with the survey techniques, the conclusion confirmed that Poles’ sense of security decreased in 2020 and 2021. According to the respondents’ answers, the most frequent explanation for declining security perception coincides with the threat of contracting the coronavirus. Those include losing a job due to the restrictions introduced in economic activity, determined by the appearance of the coronavirus, and the introduction of restrictions on movement in connection with the occurrences of COVID-19. In addition, the study found that the respondents’ most frequently chosen methods of improving their sense of security include using personal protective equipment, avoiding contact with other people, and refraining from leaving their homes.

Ombudsman and His Activity During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Selected Issues)

The article is devoted to the analysis of the activities of the Commissioner for Human Rights during the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland. The experience to date allows us to conclude the activities of the ombudsman institution and the problems of a social, political and legal nature generated in the state by various regulations aimed at eliminating the virus itself and the consequences of its occurrence. The aim of this article is to draw attention to selected problems related to the specificity of the activities of state institutions in the event of a threat to the health safety of Poles, as well as activities undertaken in the area of administration, health protection and economic activity. The author tries to show that the Ombudsman intensified efforts to protect civil rights during the pandemic and pointed to its critical problems.

The article is devoted to assessing consumers’ behaviors, particularly in terms of stockpiling, after the coronavirus outbreak, as well as their impact on the security of Poles. Firstly, the paper reviews the literature. Then the research methodology was presented, with particular emphasis on the research methodology used, indication of the encountered limitations of the research, as well as characteristics of the respondents. General recommendations on stockpiles are then presented. These recommendations have been juxtaposed with those of the Polish government in this area. Then the author presented the results of the empirical research conducted using the survey technique. The results of the research were divided into four categories, which describe: the frequency of purchases, the quantity of products purchased, purchases of new products, and the reasons for stockpiling. Based on the above elements, a discussion was held, and recommendations were developed as a result.