Poland's New Strategic Culture and Geopolitical Ambitions — Piotr Pietrzak

1 Jun 2026 · 1 h 07 min · S4 E15

Episode Poland's New Strategic Culture and Geopolitical Ambitions — Piotr Pietrzak

0:00 1:06:39

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 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.

Selected 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

Chapters

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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