As American power recedes and European unity fractures, Poland finds itself at the centre of one of the most consequential geopolitical transformations of our time. Dr Piotr Pietrzak joins us to trace Poland's journey from historical insecurity to strategic confidence. Can Poland sustain great-power aspirations without overreaching?
Piotr Pietrzak
Piotr Pietrzak is co-founder of In Statu Nascendi Think Tank, a non-partisan and independent institution bringing together scholars from a wide range of disciplines. It is devoted to rigorous inquiry into contemporary conflict and political philosophy, and to generating actionable ideas on geoeconomic, political, and socio-economic matters.
A scholar, ontologist, and author, Dr Pietrzak is particularly known for bringing a rigorous pragmatic perspective to international relations theory, conflict management, and geopolitics. His work consistently bridges theoretical inquiry and real-world application, making it relevant to both academic and policy audiences.
Publications:
On the Idea of Humanitarian Intervention: A New Compartmentalization of IR Theories
Exploring the implications of local and regional conflicts
The Changing Conceptual Landscape of the Russian War in Ukraine (2014-Present) and Syria (2011-Present)
The Russia ‒ Ukraine War and the Renaissance of IR Realism
Geopolitical rivalries and strategic competition across Eurasia
Strengthening international relations through transformative theory and practice
The Sikorski–Tusk doctrine underpinning Poland's new strategic culture and its response to the Russia–Ukraine War
Content
00:00 - Introduction
01:20 - Reimagining International Relations: An Ontology “In Statu Nascendi”
04:09 - The Giedroyc-Mieroszewski Doctrine
07:17 - The Brzezinski Doctrine
11:02 - The Sikorski–Tusk Doctrine
18:13 - Regional Power or Strategic Frontline State? Poland’s Post-2022 Autonomy
24:43 - Between Brussels and Washington: Balancing Pro-European and Pro-American Orientations
29:35 - Ukraine as a Strategic Beneficiary of the War
32:18 - Beyond Solidarity: The Future of Polish-Ukrainian Relations
36:32 - China and the New Geometry of Polish Geopolitics
40:28 - What Would G7 Membership Mean for Poland?
46:04 - Democratic Values, Diaspora Networks, and Poland’s Emerging Leadership Role
50:24 - From Historical Insecurity to Strategic Confidence: The Evolution of Polish Strategic Culture
54:01 - Ambition versus Overstretch: Can Poland Sustain Great-Power Aspirations (American power declines, European unity weakens, and Ukraine remains unstable)
01:00:10 - Poland and Russia: Is Stable Coexistence Possible?
01:02:57 - The Most Underresearched Questions in Polish Geopolitics
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