Suchergebnisse

Mimo ścisłych związków między technologią i stosunkami międzynarodowymi istnieje niewiele prac w nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych, które podejmują próbę teoretycznego połączenia obu tych sfer rzeczywistości społecznej. Podstawowym celem artykułu jest historyzacja technologii militarnej w społecznej historii stosunków międzynarodowych. Autor przedstawia proces historycznego wzrostu znaczenia technologii militarnej w funkcjonowaniu społeczeństw i jej destruktywny wpływ na życie społeczne. Przekonuje, że nowe technologie rozwinaje są przez istoty ludzkie, a nie "odkrywane". Dokonane wynalazki odzwierciedlają określone interesy, posiadanie adekwatnych zasobów do ich dokonania i istnienie określonego instytucjonalnego wsparcia. W takim rozumieniu nauka, technologia i innowacje są funkcją ludzkich wyborów, interesów, idei, instytucji i zasobów. ; Despite close connections between technology and international relations, there are few works in international relations studies that would make an attempt to theoretically connect both of these two spheres of social reality.The main aim of the article is a historization of military technology in a social history of international relations. The author presents the process of historical growth of importance of military technology in functioning of societies and its destructive influence on social life. He convinces one that new technologies are developed, not "discovered" by human beings. Inventions reflect specific interests, owning proper resources to develop them and the existence of determined institutional support. In this understanding, science, technology and innovations are functions of human choices, interests, ideas, institutions and resources.In the first part of the article, the author presents relations between science, technology and innovations, as well as main attitudes in international relations studies in the context of comprehending these relations. Problems caused by technological development are also discussed. In the second part of the article, the author presents the meaning of military technology in international relations through its historization. By showing different contexts of "war machines" (horse, chariot, cavalry, cannons, conventional and nuclear weapon, information technology),one can observe the influence of military technology on international relations in the process of uneven and related development of different societies in different times from antiquity to the present day. In particular, the results of transformation of relations between armed forces and scientific institutions after World War II into permanent structures of society and government are shown. On the example of United States of America, the author points negative consequences of forming bureaucratic national security services for many aspects of social life. Finally, referring to James Der Derian's analysis, the author presents transformative influence of information technology on international relations.

W artykule przedstawiono jakościową metodę śledzenia procesu (process tracing) i jej przykładowe wykorzystanie w badaniu stosunków międzynarodowych. Po pierwsze, dokonano ogólnej charakterystyki metody. Po drugie, przedstawiono debatę toczoną w naukach społecznych na temat rozumienia mechanizmów przyczynowych i przyczynowego wnioskowania oraz użyteczności metody śledzenia procesu do testowania hipotez. Po trzecie, omówiono różnego rodzaju dyrektywy kierujące postępowaniem badawczym w ramach metody śledzenia procesu. Po czwarte, w końcowej części artykułu zademonstrowano implementację metody w nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych na przykładzie analizy zakończenia zimnej wojny. W końcu sformułowano pewne wątpliwości związane z metodą. Celem artykułu jest wprowadzenie do polskiej nauki o stosunkach międzynarodowych jakościowej metody badawczej, która nie jest wykorzystywana przez polskich badaczy, chociaż większość z nich określa swoje stanowisko metodologiczne jako jakościowe. Autor w szczególności uzasadnia i ilustruje przekonanie, że metoda śledzenia procesu może stanowić mocną propozycję w rozwiązywaniu problemów związanych z rozpoznawaniem stosunków przyczynowych w nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych. Autor posługuje się w artykule metodą analizy treści. Metoda śledzenia procesu została przedstawiona w oparciu o analizę tekstów uznanych zwolenników metody w filozofii nauki i nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych oraz prac poświęconych problemom stosunków międzynarodowych badanych przy zastosowaniu tej metody. Wyniki przeprowadzonej analizy pozwalają na sformułowanie rekomendacji do stosowania metody do badania stosunków międzynarodowych. Autor przedstawia również słabe strony metody, których istnienia powinien być świadomy każdy z niej korzystający. ; The article presents a qualitative method known as process tracing and exemplifies its use in the study of international relations. Firstly, the general characteristics of process tracing are shown. Secondly, the debate in social sciences on the understanding of causal mechanisms and causal inference is discussed, and whether process tracing is useful in testing hypotheses. Thirdly, different types of directives that guide the research procedure within the framework of process tracing are presented. Fourthly, the final part of the article demonstrates the implementation of process tracing in International Relations on the example of the analysis of the end of the Cold War. The article is concluded with a few doubts the method raises. The aim of the article is to introduce a qualitative research method to the Polish studies of International Relations. This method has not been used by Polish researchers, although most of them declare their methodological standpoint as a qualitative approach. The author justifies and illustrates the belief that the method of process tracing can be strongly recommended in solving problems related to the identification of causal relations in International Relations. The author uses the content analysis method in the article. The method of process tracing is presented based on the analysis of the texts of renowned supporters of the method in the Philosophy of Science and International Relations and of works dedicated to the problems of international relations studied using this method. The results of the analysis make it possible to formulate recommendations for the application of the method to study international relations. The author also presents the weaknesses of this method, which every scholar employing it should be aware of.

The article presents a qualitative method known as process tracing and exemplifies its use in the study of international relations. Firstly, the general characteristics of process tracing are shown. Secondly, the debate in social sciences on the understanding of causal mechanisms and causal inference is discussed, and whether process tracing is useful in testing hypotheses. Thirdly, different types of directives that guide the research procedure within the framework of process tracing are presented. Fourthly, the final part of the article demonstrates the implementation of process tracing in International Relations on the example of the analysis of the end of the Cold War. The article is concluded with a few doubts the method raises. The aim of the article is to introduce a qualitative research method to the Polish studies of International Relations. This method has not been used by Polish researchers, although most of them declare their methodological standpoint as a qualitative approach. The author justifies and illustrates the belief that the method of process tracing can be strongly recommended in solving problems related to the identification of causal relations in International Relations. The author uses the content analysis method in the article. The method of process tracing is presented based on the analysis of the texts of renowned supporters of the method in the Philosophy of Science and International Relations and of works dedicated to the problems of international relations studied using this method. The results of the analysis make it possible to formulate recommendations for the application of the method to study international relations. The author also presents the weaknesses of this method, which every scholar employing it should be aware of. ; W artykule przedstawiono jakościową metodę śledzenia procesu (process tracing) i jej przykładowe wykorzystanie w badaniu stosunków międzynarodowych. Po pierwsze, dokonano ogólnej charakterystyki metody. Po drugie, przedstawiono debatę toczoną w naukach społecznych na temat rozumienia mechanizmów przyczynowych i przyczynowego wnioskowania oraz użyteczności metody śledzenia procesu do testowania hipotez. Po trzecie, omówiono różnego rodzaju dyrektywy kierujące postępowaniem badawczym w ramach metody śledzenia procesu. Po czwarte, w końcowej części artykułu zademonstrowano implementację metody w nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych na przykładzie analizy zakończenia zimnej wojny. W końcu sformułowano pewne wątpliwości związane z metodą. Celem artykułu jest wprowadzenie do polskiej nauki o stosunkach międzynarodowych jakościowej metody badawczej, która nie jest wykorzystywana przez polskich badaczy, chociaż większość z nich określa swoje stanowisko metodologiczne jako jakościowe. Autor w szczególności uzasadnia i ilustruje przekonanie, że metoda śledzenia procesu może stanowić mocną propozycję w rozwiązywaniu problemów związanych z rozpoznawaniem stosunków przyczynowych w nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych. Autor posługuje się w artykule metodą analizy treści. Metoda śledzenia procesu została przedstawiona w oparciu o analizę tekstów uznanych zwolenników metody w filozofii nauki i nauce o stosunkach międzynarodowych oraz prac poświęconych problemom stosunków międzynarodowych badanych przy zastosowaniu tej metody. Wyniki przeprowadzonej analizy pozwalają na sformułowanie rekomendacji do stosowania metody do badania stosunków międzynarodowych. Autor przedstawia również słabe strony metody, których istnienia powinien być świadomy każdy z niej korzystający.

Vanjska trgovima ima veliki značaj u gospodarstvu svake zemlje. Bez vanjske trgovine zemlja ne bi mogla biti konkurentna na svjetskom tržištu i ostvarivati devizna sredstva. Pitanje odnosa Turske i Europske unije kao nositelja europskog integracijskog procesa predmet je političkog i geostrateškog spora koji traje više od pedeset godina. Primarni razlozi za uporne zahtjeve Turske za priključenjem Europskoj uniji su, među ostalim, brojni Turci u Europi i važnost trgovine između njih. Turska je, međutim, također sve više razočarana široko rasprostranjenim protivljenjem njenom pristupanju među zemljama članicama EU. Čimbenici odnosa Republike Turske i Europske unije su : demografski aspekti, sociološke i kulturološke razlike, pristupni kriteriji, ekonomski aspekti i politički problemi. U posljednja dva desetljeća carinska unija EU-Turska bila je okosnica okvira bilateralne trgovine. Za to vrijeme Turska je postala petom glavnom trgovinom s EU na globalnoj razini s vrijednošću bilateralne trgovine robom od 140 milijardi eura u 2017. godini. Slično tome, EU je najvažniji trgovinski partner Turske, koja predstavlja 41% Turske globalne trgovine. ; Foreign trade has great significance in the economy of each country. Without foreign trade the country could not be competitive on the world market and realize foreign currency assets. The question of the relationship between Turkey and the European Union as the bearer of the European integration process is the subject of a political and geostrategic dispute that lasts more than fifty years. The main reasons for persistent Turkey's demands for joining the European Union are, among other things, many Turks in Europe and the importance of trade between them. Turkey, however, is also increasingly disappointed with the widespread opposition to its accession among EU member states. Factors of the relationship between the Republic of Turkey and the European Union are: demographic aspects, sociological and cultural differences, access to critique, economic aspects and political ...

Vanjska trgovima ima veliki značaj u gospodarstvu svake zemlje. Bez vanjske trgovine zemlja ne bi mogla biti konkurentna na svjetskom tržištu i ostvarivati devizna sredstva. Pitanje odnosa Turske i Europske unije kao nositelja europskog integracijskog procesa predmet je političkog i geostrateškog spora koji traje više od pedeset godina. Primarni razlozi za uporne zahtjeve Turske za priključenjem Europskoj uniji su, među ostalim, brojni Turci u Europi i važnost trgovine između njih. Turska je, međutim, također sve više razočarana široko rasprostranjenim protivljenjem njenom pristupanju među zemljama članicama EU. Čimbenici odnosa Republike Turske i Europske unije su : demografski aspekti, sociološke i kulturološke razlike, pristupni kriteriji, ekonomski aspekti i politički problemi. U posljednja dva desetljeća carinska unija EU-Turska bila je okosnica okvira bilateralne trgovine. Za to vrijeme Turska je postala petom glavnom trgovinom s EU na globalnoj razini s vrijednošću bilateralne trgovine robom od 140 milijardi eura u 2017. godini. Slično tome, EU je najvažniji trgovinski partner Turske, koja predstavlja 41% Turske globalne trgovine. ; Foreign trade has great significance in the economy of each country. Without foreign trade the country could not be competitive on the world market and realize foreign currency assets. The question of the relationship between Turkey and the European Union as the bearer of the European integration process is the subject of a political and geostrategic dispute that lasts more than fifty years. The main reasons for persistent Turkey's demands for joining the European Union are, among other things, many Turks in Europe and the importance of trade between them. Turkey, however, is also increasingly disappointed with the widespread opposition to its accession among EU member states. Factors of the relationship between the Republic of Turkey and the European Union are: demographic aspects, sociological and cultural differences, access to critique, economic aspects and political ...

Koncept ljudske sigurnosti prvi put je istaknut u izvješću UNDP-a (United Nations Development Programme: Razvojni program Ujedinjenih naroda) 1994. i bazira se na slobodi od oskudice (freedom from want) i slobodi od straha (freedom from fear). Na Svjetskom samitu o hrani (World Food Summit) 1996. sigurnost hrane je definirana na način koji naglašava dostupnost hrane, pristup hrani te korištenje i stabilnost kao ključne dimenzije sigurnosti hrane. Iako najčešće nije jedini uzrok sukoba, nesigurnost hrane predstavlja sigurnosnu prijetnju jer služi kao pokretač nasilnog djelovanja. Glad i nesigurnost hrane povećavaju vjerojatnost da će doći do prosvjeda i nereda što potiče nesigurnost među stanovništvom i ostavlja dugotrajne posljedice na cjelokupan razvoj zajednice. S druge strane, sukobi uzrokuju degradaciju okoliša, raspad ekonomije i prisilno raseljavanje stanovništva što u konačnici uzrokuje glad i, naposljetku, bolest i smrt. U posljednjem desetljeću mnoge zemlje ulažu napore u provođenje zakona i strategija usmjerenih na rješavanje problema gladi. Nastoji se potaknuti i društvene skupine da aktivno sudjeluju kako bi uz pomoć međunarodne zajednice unaprijedili sigurnost hrane i osigurali pozitivne transformacije. ; The concept of human security was first highlighted in the UNDP report of 1994 and is based on two freedoms; freedom from want and freedom from fear. The widely accepted World Food Summit definition from 1996 emphasizes the importance of food availability, food access, food use and stability of food as key dimensions of food security. Although usually not the only cause of conflict, food insecurity represents a security threat since it serves as an initiator of violent actions. The presence of hunger and food insecurity increase the probability of protests and riots, which further causes insecurity among the population and leaves long-term consequences to the overall development of the community. On the other hand, conflicts cause the degradation of environment, economic disruption, forced displacement of the population which, in the end, causes hunger and ultimately disease and death. In the last decade, many countries have invested their efforts in law enforcement and strategies aimed at solving the problem of hunger. Countries also seek to activate social groups for participating actively in cooperation with international communities in order to enhance food security and ensure positive transformation.

The task of the article is a comparison of theoretical findings of the conception of the international economic cooperation of the CMEA member states with the premises of their economic policies in this scope and with the previous course of integrational processes in the CMEA group. In the first part of the study, three basic theoretical concepts of economic cooperation are presented which can be related to differing views of economists on the part played by planning and international market in the socialist economy. In the second part of the study a system of the international economic cooperation adopted in the premises of the economic policies of the CMEA member states is analyzed. The author's attention is focused mainly on those elements of the international cooperation system which are compromising opposing pursuits of the particular member states of securing themselves most favorable conditions for balancing necessary means with needs stated autonomously in the national plans of economic developement. The third part of the study is devoted to the analysis of features of functioning of the present system of international cooperation of the CMEA states. The actual distribution of competence and roles in the system of relations between various levels of domestic and international institutions and organizations are characterized. The scope of implementation of resolutions and recommendations of the CMEA on the developement of the international specialization and productional cooperation is evaluated. The excessive build up of the consulting and negociating activities almost on all the levels of economic organizations of the member states and of the CMEA organs is also indicated. The identification and analysis of structure of interdependence of economic interests in the sphere of realization of international economic cooperation in the CMEA are performed. Particularly, following groups of interests can be singled out: Party and government governing bodies, central economic administration, productional and trade enterprises, international organs of the CMEA. In the final remarks factors diminishing the ability to control a mechanism of the international cooperation are presented, this can well account for the lack of developement in real integrational ties and related organizational structures in the system of cooperation of the CMEA states. ; Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/2016

This article is a case study that presents the international cooperation of one of the 66 Polish cities with the district status – Płock, a city of average size in this category of Polish local self-governments, which, however, is not average in terms of its historical traditions. For several decades it was the capital of Poland and the historical capital of one of its regions, Mazovia. Today, it is a medium-sized city, which is very active in theinternational arena. For its international cooperation it has been awarded many Council of Europe awards: the European Diploma, the Flag of Honour and the Plaque of Honour. This article presents the activities undertaken by the Płock authorities which led to the awarding of these distinctions. ; Artykuł ten stanowi studium przypadku i przedstawia współpracę międzynarodową jednego z 66 polskich miast na prawach powiatu – Płocka, miasta przeciętnej wielkości w tej kategorii polskich samorządów terytorialnych, które jednak nie jest przeciętne pod względem tradycji historycznych. Było ono przez kilkadziesiąt lat stolicą Polski i historyczną stolicą jednej z jej dzielnic – Mazowsza. Dzisiaj jest miastem średniej wielkości, które bardzo aktywnie działa na arenie międzynarodowej. Za współpracę międzynarodową zostało wyróżnione wieloma nagrodami Rady Europy: Dyplomem Europejskim, Flagą Honorową i Tablicą Honorową. Artykuł przedstawia działalność Płocka, która doprowadziła do otrzymania tych wyróżnień.

The article analyses the role of European Union (EU) and NATO in the system of the international security. The official documents often highlights that EU and NATO are unique and essential partners. Both organisations share common values and have 22 common members. Furthermore, it is stressed that UE and NATO can and should be complementary to one another and help one another in pressing area of international peace and security. Unfortunately co-operation between these both organisations still maintain difficult, complex and challenging problem. ; W artykule poddano analizie rolę Unii Europejskiej (UE) i NATO w systemie bezpieczeństwa międzynarodowego. W oficjalnych dokumentach często pojawia się stwierdzenie, że UE i NATO to wyjątkowi partnerzy. Obie organizacje łączą wspólne wartości, a 22 państwa członkowskie NATO należą też do UE. Podkreśla się, że UE i NATO mogą, a nawet powinny wzajemnie się wspierać i uzupełniać w dziedzinie międzynarodowego pokoju i bezpieczeństwa. Niestety, współpraca pomiędzy nimi stanowi trudny i złożony problem.

The growing dependence of countries and societies on the use of space technologies results in the increasing activity in outer space of new actors, both state and non-state. It produces a number of adverse outcomes for the space environment, making it a less and less safe place (e.g. space debris). Emerging threats may affect national and international security on earth. As a result, an urgent need for a collective approach to the management of the use of outer space is emerging. The international legal regime for outer space that has been developing since the beginning of the space age is no longer sufficient, because it does not take into account many rapid changes. One of the attempts to overcome this problem is the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities drafted by the European Union in 2008. This paper discusses the reasons why, despite long-lasting efforts and intensifying problems, the Code has so far failed to win the approval of the powers which is requisite to constitute an important part of the international outer space regime. ; The growing dependence of countries and societies on the use of space technologies results in the increasing activity in outer space of new actors, both state and non-state. It produces a number of adverse outcomes for the space environment, making it a less and less safe place (e.g. space debris). Emerging threats may affect national and international security on earth. As a result, an urgent need for a collective approach to the management of the use of outer space is emerging. The international legal regime for outer space that has been developing since the beginning of the space age is no longer sufficient, because it does not take into account many rapid changes. One of the attempts to overcome this problem is the International Code of Conduct for Outer Space Activities drafted by the European Union in 2008. This paper discusses the reasons why, despite long-lasting efforts and intensifying problems, the Code has so far failed to win the approval of the powers which is requisite to constitute an important part of the international outer space regime.

Kurdi su koncentrirani na nepristupačnom području planina Zagros i Taurskog gorja što se smatra njihovim etničkim prostorom pod nazivom Kurdistan. Unatoč brojnosti, Kurdi nemaju vlastitu nacionalnu državu, već je prostor Kurdistana podijeljeno između četiri države- Turske, Irana, Iraka i Sirije. Svrha rada je pronaći glavne uzroke zbog čega Kurdi nisu iskoristili povijesnu priliku za osnivanje neovisne države nakon raspada Osmanskog Carstva i ispitati mogućnost za osnivanje Kurdistana u budućnosti. Radi tradicionalne podjele u kurdskom društvu na plemena i klanove, Kurdi su kasnije formirali modernu nacionalnu svijest i osjećaj pripadnosti jedinstvenom narodu. Kroz dvadeseto stoljeće slabi plemenska struktura, ali se podjela nastavlja u obliku političkog sukoba kurdskih stranaka oko ciljeva i metoda rješavanja kurdskog pitanja. Oprečni stavovi kurdskog naroda oko pitanja ujedinjenja kurdskih regija u jedinstvenu državu onemogućuje njihovo zajedničko istupanje. U daljnjem tekstu se ističe da međunarodna zajednica nije sklona osnivanju neovisne kurdske države jer bi spomenuto pridonijelo destabilizaciji već turbulentne regije. Regionalne sile neće dopustiti ugrozu vlastitog teritorijalnog integriteta, a velike sile koriste Kurde kao sredstvo za ostvarivanje pojedinih interesa u regiji. ; The Kurds are inhabiting an inaccessible area of the Zagros and Taurus mountains which is considered their ethnic space called Kurdistan. Despite of vast number of the Kurdish people, their independent country does not exist and the territory of Kurdistan is divided by 4 different countries – Turkey, Iran, Iraq and Syria. The main purpose of this research was to discover the real reason why Kurds did not take an advantage of a historical opportunity to establish an independent country after the fall of the Ottoman Empire and to consider a possibility of establishing Kurdistan in the future. Because Kurds are traditionally divided into tribes and clans, later they have formed a modern idea of national consciousness and an ...

The rapid evolution of numerous contemporary threats and the development of multilateralism constitute two significant driving forces for the intensified cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations as regards crisis management. Responding to crises (threats), both natural and man-induced, in an efficient manner requires effective crisis management in order to take steps as early as possible when a threat emerges. Given the increasing external expectations in this field addressed at the EU, it has gradually been developing relevant civil as well as military instruments of crisis management and response. The EU has also been developing collaboration with the UN which calls for increased commitment of regional organizations in bearing the costs of maintaining international peace and security. Although this cooperation is mutually beneficial, it is not free from weaknesses and limitations on various levels of operation. ; The rapid evolution of numerous contemporary threats and the development of multilateralism constitute two significant driving forces for the intensified cooperation between the European Union and the United Nations as regards crisis management. Responding to crises (threats), both natural and man-induced, in an efficient manner requires effective crisis management in order to take steps as early as possible when a threat emerges. Given the increasing external expectations in this field addressed at the EU, it has gradually been developing relevant civil as well as military instruments of crisis management and response. The EU has also been developing collaboration with the UN which calls for increased commitment of regional organizations in bearing the costs of maintaining international peace and security. Although this cooperation is mutually beneficial, it is not free from weaknesses and limitations on various levels of operation.

Autorka tekstu koncentruje, zwraca uwagę Czytelnika na problemie fundamentalnym dla kondycji Europy i stanu bezpieczeństwa świata XXI wieku, w którym mechanizmy – do niedawna stabilizujące relacje międzynarodowe na różnych poziomach systemu międzynarodowego – zostały rozregulowane. Swoista "apolarność" systemu międzynarodowego z jakim jesteśmy konfrontowani niepokoi, rodzi pytania i dylematy co do przyszłości, kierunków zmian i mechanizmów potrzebnych do "poradzenia" sobie z rzeczywistością radykalnie różną od tej w jakiej przynajmniej od półwiecza – z lepszym lub gorszym bilansem strat i zysków – zwykliśmy funkcjonować. Wysoki stopień niepewności co do kierunków zmian, zasad jakie w tej niepewnej i niedookreślonej rzeczywistości zdominują myślenie o bezpieczeństwie i stabilizacji, o ładzie międzynarodowym wymusza pytania o kształt ładu światowego, jego możliwe projekcje oraz dylematy z jakimi trzeba się zmierzyć, aby jego ostateczny kształt stanowił silne "oparcie" dla bezpieczeństwa europejskiego. Na dzisiaj takiego projektu nie ma, podobnie jak uderzający jest brak wizji ładu, który odzwierciedlałby "adekwatne" oczekiwania, marzenia i racje Europy oraz innych regionów świata, ich mieszkańców, elit politycznych. Przyjmuję hipotetycznie, iż "ład"/"porządek" europejski w jakim tkwi kontynent jawi się bardziej jako oksymoron, w rodzaju "nieuporządkowanego" porządku europejskiego, "chaotycznego ładu" lub – co wydaje się brzmieć nieco optymistyczniej – "stan" przed uporządkowaniem elementów świata. Jest to jednak wciąż nośnik rozwiązań bardziej zorientowanych do wnętrza kontynentu i jego "wątpliwej" spójności aniżeli do systemu międzynarodowego. Co więcej proponowane rozwiązania zdają się trwać "…w zawieszeniu między przeszłością, którą pragnie przezwyciężyć, a przyszłością której jeszcze nie zdefiniowała" (Kissinger, 2016, s. 95). Przekroczenie tego progu jest niezbędne. Wymaga jednak, aby Europejczycy odpowiedzieli sobie na ponadczasowe pytanie: "ile jedności jest potrzebne i jak dużą różnorodność kulturowo-cywilizacyjną jest w stanie zaakceptować (tolerować) społeczność międzynarodowa (i rządy), aby porozumienie zapewniające pokój na kolejne stulecia przestało być efemerydą" (Kissinger, 2016, s. 95). Elementem ważnym w zaprezentowanej narracji jest próba uporządkowania istoty i sensu pojęciowego takich konstrukcji jak "ład", "porządek", "chaos", semiotycznie nieostrych a przez to wieloznacznych. To istotny zabieg analityczny. Czytelne i kluczowe dla wywodu pojęcia konkretyzują przedmiot badań, treść badanych zjawisk i procesów oraz ich funkcje, a przez to umożliwiają budowanie rozwiązań, które łączą różne racje, interesy, oczekiwania. ; The author draws the readers' attention to what is fundamental from the point of view of the disorder the world has found itself in in the 21st century, namely the current dismantling of the mechanisms that have hitherto stabilized international relations at the level of the global system, as well as its varied subsystems. The peculiar "apolarity" of this system is disturbing, it makes us feel threatened, raises questions and poses dilemmas with regard to the future, the directions in which changes are heading, and the mechanisms needed to "cope" with a reality radically different from the one we have functioned in for at least fifty years, with a better or worse balance of loss and profit. A high degree of uncertainty as to the directions of changes and the principles that will dominate thinking about security and stability, and international order, in this uncertain, undefined reality invites questions about the design of the global order, and the dilemmas that must be resolved for such an order to ensure robust "support" for the European order. There is no such design, nor is there a vision of the European order which would reflect the "relevant" expectations, dreams and arguments of other regions of the world, their inhabitants, and political elites. At present, a "European order" appears to be an oxymoron, something along the lines of "a disorderly European order", "a chaotic order" or, a little more optimistically, "a state before ordering the elements of the world," a vehicle of the solutions addressed to the interior of Europe and its "dubious" coherence rather than to the international system. The author presents a narrative based on the assumption that Europe does not have such a vision. What is more, the continent appears to be "suspended between a past it seeks to overcome and a future it has not yet defined" (Kissinger, 2016, s. 95). In order to move on, Europeans have to answer the timeless question of how much unity is required and how much cultural and civilizational variety is the international community (and the governments) able to accept (tolerate) in order for the agreement that will ensure peace for centuries to become more than ephemeral? A significant element of this narrative involves an attempt at arranging such concepts as "order," "orderliness" and "chaos," which are semantically vague, and therefore ambiguous. This is an important analytical measure, because clarifying the notions which are of key importance for these considerations concretizes the object of research, the content of investigated phenomena and their functions.

Autorka tekstu koncentruje, zwraca uwagę Czytelnika na problemie fundamentalnym dla kondycji Europy i stanu bezpieczeństwa świata XXI wieku, w którym mechanizmy – do niedawna stabilizujące relacje międzynarodowe na różnych poziomach systemu międzynarodowego – zostały rozregulowane. Swoista "apolarność" systemu międzynarodowego z jakim jesteśmy konfrontowani niepokoi, rodzi pytania i dylematy co do przyszłości, kierunków zmian i mechanizmów potrzebnych do "poradzenia" sobie z rzeczywistością radykalnie różną od tej w jakiej przynajmniej od półwiecza – z lepszym lub gorszym bilansem strat i zysków – zwykliśmy funkcjonować. Wysoki stopień niepewności co do kierunków zmian, zasad jakie w tej niepewnej i niedookreślonej rzeczywistości zdominują myślenie o bezpieczeństwie i stabilizacji, o ładzie międzynarodowym wymusza pytania o kształt ładu światowego, jego możliwe projekcje oraz dylematy z jakimi trzeba się zmierzyć, aby jego ostateczny kształt stanowił silne "oparcie" dla bezpieczeństwa europejskiego. Na dzisiaj takiego projektu nie ma, podobnie jak uderzający jest brak wizji ładu, który odzwierciedlałby "adekwatne" oczekiwania, marzenia i racje Europy oraz innych regionów świata, ich mieszkańców, elit politycznych. Przyjmuję hipotetycznie, iż "ład"/"porządek" europejski w jakim tkwi kontynent jawi się bardziej jako oksymoron, w rodzaju "nieuporządkowanego" porządku europejskiego, "chaotycznego ładu" lub – co wydaje się brzmieć nieco optymistyczniej – "stan" przed uporządkowaniem elementów świata. Jest to jednak wciąż nośnik rozwiązań bardziej zorientowanych do wnętrza kontynentu i jego "wątpliwej" spójności aniżeli do systemu międzynarodowego. Co więcej proponowane rozwiązania zdają się trwać "…w zawieszeniu między przeszłością, którą pragnie przezwyciężyć, a przyszłością której jeszcze nie zdefiniowała" (Kissinger, 2016, s. 95). Przekroczenie tego progu jest niezbędne. Wymaga jednak, aby Europejczycy odpowiedzieli sobie na ponadczasowe pytanie: "ile jedności jest potrzebne i jak dużą różnorodność kulturowo-cywilizacyjną jest w stanie zaakceptować (tolerować) społeczność międzynarodowa (i rządy), aby porozumienie zapewniające pokój na kolejne stulecia przestało być efemerydą" (Kissinger, 2016, s. 95). Elementem ważnym w zaprezentowanej narracji jest próba uporządkowania istoty i sensu pojęciowego takich konstrukcji jak "ład", "porządek", "chaos", semiotycznie nieostrych a przez to wieloznacznych. To istotny zabieg analityczny. Czytelne i kluczowe dla wywodu pojęcia konkretyzują przedmiot badań, treść badanych zjawisk i procesów oraz ich funkcje, a przez to umożliwiają budowanie rozwiązań, które łączą różne racje, interesy, oczekiwania. ; The author draws the readers' attention to what is fundamental from the point of view of the disorder the world has found itself in in the 21st century, namely the current dismantling of the mechanisms that have hitherto stabilized international relations at the level of the global system, as well as its varied subsystems. The peculiar "apolarity" of this system is disturbing, it makes us feel threatened, raises questions and poses dilemmas with regard to the future, the directions in which changes are heading, and the mechanisms needed to "cope" with a reality radically different from the one we have functioned in for at least fifty years, with a better or worse balance of loss and profit. A high degree of uncertainty as to the directions of changes and the principles that will dominate thinking about security and stability, and international order, in this uncertain, undefined reality invites questions about the design of the global order, and the dilemmas that must be resolved for such an order to ensure robust "support" for the European order. There is no such design, nor is there a vision of the European order which would reflect the "relevant" expectations, dreams and arguments of other regions of the world, their inhabitants, and political elites. At present, a "European order" appears to be an oxymoron, something along the lines of "a disorderly European order", "a chaotic order" or, a little more optimistically, "a state before ordering the elements of the world," a vehicle of the solutions addressed to the interior of Europe and its "dubious" coherence rather than to the international system. The author presents a narrative based on the assumption that Europe does not have such a vision. What is more, the continent appears to be "suspended between a past it seeks to overcome and a future it has not yet defined" (Kissinger, 2016, s. 95). In order to move on, Europeans have to answer the timeless question of how much unity is required and how much cultural and civilizational variety is the international community (and the governments) able to accept (tolerate) in order for the agreement that will ensure peace for centuries to become more than ephemeral? A significant element of this narrative involves an attempt at arranging such concepts as "order," "orderliness" and "chaos," which are semantically vague, and therefore ambiguous. This is an important analytical measure, because clarifying the notions which are of key importance for these considerations concretizes the object of research, the content of investigated phenomena and their functions.

This article examines the reasons for adopting a non‑institutional character of the Visegrad cooperation in the years 1991‑1992. Its focus concerns two causes of the initial reluctance to institutionalise the Visegrad Group: the high level of unpredictability in Central Europe after the collapse of Communism and the symbolic role the Group was expected to play outside the region. These issues are considered through the prism of two theories in International Relations: neorealism and neoliberal institutionalism. Both provide theoreti‑ cal grounds to support the research hypothesis which assumes that the infor‑ mal character of the Visegrad cooperation was a pragmatic choice of its found‑ ing members. However, neorealist and neoliberal explanations of how the political background and security issues could have influenced their decision vary. The article concludes that the neorealist approach holds more explana‑ tory power in this regard, suggesting that the choice of the Visegrad states was dictated by the preservation of their national interests and subjected to ex‑ ternal limitations, rather than motivated by a common intention to facilitate their regional cooperation. ; Arkadiusz Nyzio