Poland's New Strategic Culture - Piotr Pietrzak | Ep. 15 (2026)

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 PietrzakPiotr 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 TheoriesExploring the implications of local and regional conflictsThe Changing Conceptual Landscape of the Russian War in Ukraine (2014-Present) and Syria (2011-Present)The Russia ‒ Ukraine War and the Renaissance of IR RealismGeopolitical rivalries and strategic competition across EurasiaStrengthening international relations through transformative theory and practiceThe Sikorski–Tusk doctrine underpinning Poland's new strategic culture and its response to the Russia–Ukraine WarContent00:00 - Introduction01:20 - Reimagining International Relations: An Ontology “In Statu Nascendi”04:09 - The Giedroyc-Mieroszewski Doctrine07:17 - The Brzezinski Doctrine11:02 - The Sikorski–Tusk Doctrine18:13 - Regional Power or Strategic Frontline State? Poland’s Post-2022 Autonomy24:43 - Between Brussels and Washington: Balancing Pro-European and Pro-American Orientations29:35 - Ukraine as a Strategic Beneficiary of the War32:18 - Beyond Solidarity: The Future of Polish-Ukrainian Relations36:32 - China and the New Geometry of Polish Geopolitics40:28 - What Would G7 Membership Mean for Poland?46:04 - Democratic Values, Diaspora Networks, and Poland’s Emerging Leadership Role50:24 - From Historical Insecurity to Strategic Confidence: The Evolution of Polish Strategic Culture54:01 - 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 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.