Security and Defence Quarterly

Number 9 (4), 2015

5-37
The Visegrad Group in the western security system

Authors: Marcin Urbański, Karol Dołęga

Abstract

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Number of views: 28

The catalyst for the initiation of regional integration processes in Central and Eastern Europe was the erosion of the system of real socialism. The security vacuum created after the collapse of the Soviet Union allowed the countries of the region to establish low institutionalised cooperation towards integration with NATO and the European Union - the two basic pillars of the Western security system. Apart from presenting the process of the quadrilateral cooperation of Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary for independence from the Soviet Union and then the Russian Federation, and integration with NATO and the EU, the authors also focus on the jointactions of the Visegrad Group after joining Western structures. A particularly important area of analysis is military cooperation and its tangible consequences - closer cooperation between the Central European region and, consequently, increasing the level of security

38-54
Special operations for disruption of state and military control system

Authors: Yuriy Danyk, Serhii Hudz

Abstract

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Number of views: 32

The article deals with the essence of special operations for implementation of destructive actions aimed at disruption of state and military control. Basic forms and methods of influence are described. The main ways of detection and response are proposed.

56-77
On Russia’s motives behind its military intervention in Syria

Authors: Marek Ilnicki

Abstract

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Number of views: 28

This article analyses the causes of Russia’s military intervention in Syria as well as the main motives behind its unanticipated decision to get involved. Since the launch of the military operations (i.e. since 30th September, 2015), European and American experts have speculated a lot on the causes and aims of the Russian involvement. This article takes into consideration only the most likely and well-grounded reasons behind Russia’s military operation. While neither of them precludes or contradicts the others, an attempt has been made to narrow down the list to the key determinants, considering the high costs of the operation and the risks involved. Getting an insight into the underlying reasons can provide reasonable grounds on which to forecast possible scenarios for Syria and offer “political” approaches to settling the conflicts in the Near East. This article argues in favour of the geopolitical nature of the motives behind the military operation in Syria, and it provides a logical rationale for Russia’s striving to regain the position of a world power with a say in resolving vital conflicts in the region and, at the same time, to draw global attention away from the Crimean Crisis and from the failure of the Kremlin’s policy in Ukraine, and, last but not least, to overcome its international isolation following the annexation of Crimea.

81-106
National monitoring system of the country for hydrometeorological phenomena

Authors: Dariusz Drzewiecki

Abstract

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Number of views: 29

In the publication, there is an analysis of the dangerous phenomena of weather - strong wind and ice accumulation. Two examples of the synoptic situation were placed with the wind as they made their analysis based on weather maps. At the end, a methodology for registering and information transfer about threats in regional networks is presented and a few chosen weather web portals in common use are selected

107-124
Safety and risk

Authors: Jerzy Kozioł

Abstract

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Number of views: 30

The problems related to the safety of human life are one of the most actual and crucial topics of the modern world. In an era of globalisation and substantially complicated conditions of social life, every human being needs to make a choice, which enables him or her to increase the possibilities of development and, at the same time, to ensure the safety of his or her own life as well other people’s lives. Taking into account the technological and industrial development, scientists intend to decrease the level of risks in work processes. No matter the efforts, these risks cannot be completely eliminated. Thanks to certain knowledge, a human being is able to make a rational decision in an emergency with an accepted level of risk. As the experience shows, the main reasons of such emergencies are people themselves.

125-149
Strategic communication in NATO: need for a unified approach to security policy

Authors: Katerina Veljanovska Blahzevska

Abstract

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Number of views: 30

This paper presents issues of strategic communication, both in terms of political communication and in terms of security risks and threats that may occur due to improper application of the communication process. A review of this issue is carried out through direct analysis of NATO’s communication framework, particularly through direct analysis of examples from the recent history of the work of this organisation. This paper aims to outline an original approach to the application of strategic communication, especially in view of the exposure of direct challenges resulting from an inadequate transfer of information as well as incompetent and insufficient professional staff in relation to the sensitive issue of public relations and modern communications. The purpose of this paper is to offer a critical reflection on the strategic communication of NATO, which must be planned and created in a timely manner on the basis of presummarised data (both from the theoretical and practical aspects), and to set the foundation for a serious discussion on the topic of communications and public access to particularly high-level communications.This is of particular strategic importance because communication contributes to the image of NATO and to the public’s perception of it, which can be completely wrong and distorted as a result of the failure to use the correct communicational approach.