Poland's Security Policy - by Justyna Zają & c (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

This book examines how the changing post-Cold War order affected Poland's security policy and particularly how the West's weakening position and Russia's revisionist policy reinforced the traditional view of security in Poland. It addresses the reasons why Poland, a middle power in Central Europe, adopted a bridging strategy in the early 1990s; how this strategy changed along with the redistribution of power in the international system; why, after the 2008 Georgian-Russian War, Poland took steps to support NATO consolidation, strengthen relations with the USA, and expand its own military capabilities; and how the Ukraine crisis affected Poland's security. This overview is an invaluable resource for students of international and European studies, security studies, political science, as well as for decision-makers, politicians, EU staff, and anyone interested in international politics in Central Europe.

From the Back Cover

This book examines how the changing post-Cold War order affected Poland's security policy and particularly how the West's weakening position and Russia's revisionist policy reinforced the traditional view of security in Poland. It addresses the reasons why Poland, a middle power in Central Europe, adopted a bridging strategy in the early 1990s; how this strategy changed along with the redistribution of power in the international system; why, after the 2008 Georgian-Russian War, Poland took steps to support NATO consolidation, strengthen relations with the USA, and expand its own military capabilities; and how the Ukraine crisis affected Poland's security. This overview is an invaluable resource for students of international and European studies, security studies, political science, as well as for decision-makers, politicians, EU staff, and anyone interested in international politics in Central Europe.
This unusually interesting, convincing and topical monograph describes the security policy of Poland - a middle power left in suspension between the West and Russia after the end of the Cold War. The great merit of this book is to provide a clear overview of this policy's evolution in light of neorealist theory and as a function of the ongoing redistribution of power in the international system. Prof. Justyna Zając's book makes it possible to understand the specific, Central European nature of Poland's security policy in a changing international order.

Professor Ryszard Zięba, University of Warsaw, Poland

Review Quotes

"Poland's Security Policy by Justyna Zając provides an excellent and timely read, an empirically well-informed and deftly written account of the entire post-communist security policy development in Poland that currently celebrates its twentieth anniversary of NATO membership and the fifteenth anniversary of EU accession. This critically reflective book will therefore present a real intellectual treat for all those doing or interested in Polish security politics per se." (Andriy Tyushka, Pol-Int, pol-int.org, January 14, 2020)
"Justyna Zając's book delivers an in-depth analysis of all those determinants along with factual explanations. ... The author also highlights certain advantages for Poland arising from the Ukrainian conflict, such as the strengthening of cooperation with the US ... Zając's book provides a very interesting insight into Poland's security policy from the period of post-communist transition until the present day." (Anna Antczak, Europe-Asia Studies, Vol. 70 (2), March, 2018)

About the Author

Professor Justyna Zając teaches International Relations at the University of Warsaw. She served on the presidential commission charged with drawing up the National Security Strategic Review, which formed the basis for the White Book of National Security of the Republic of Poland (2013). She has written several books and articles on Poland's foreign and security policy.