Focus and Scope: national security of the state and its components; public order; information security; cyber security; economics; management; finance.
High school of security and economics – Plovdiv
DOG WHISTLES AND CAT SENSES – HIDDEN EXTREMISM AND THE FRAMEWORK ОF LEGAL OVERSIGHT IN EUROPEAN COURT OF HUMAN RIGHTS CASE LAW
This paper examines the challenges posed by hidden extremist messages communicated through coded language, memes, irony, and discursively veiled expressions within the framework of the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) case law. It develops a methodological framework for assessing such speech, drawing on discourse analysis, speech act theory, and the concept of “dog whistle” communication. Through an analysis of ECtHR and selected national decisions, the study highlights the tension between safeguarding freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights and addressing disguised incitement to hatred or violence. It argues that courts must adapt their interpretative tools to account for the evolving forms of extremist rhetoric in digital environments, where messages often operate simultaneously on multiple semantic levels.
Copyright (c) 2025 Vasil Georgiev https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
SECURITY CHALLENGES OF IOT INTEGRATION IN NATIONAL AND STATE CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURES
This investigation scrutinizes the incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT) systems within national infrastructures, accentuating both operational advantages and notable security challenges. It delves into the stratified architecture of IoT, underscoring vulnerabilities that emerge from device constraints, varied deployment environments, and inadequate cybersecurity practices. The examination addresses external threats such as distributed denial-of-service attacks, malware, and data manipulation, in conjunction with internal risks including insider threats and misconfigurations. The ramifications of these threats on critical infrastructure sectors, such as energy, transportation, and healthcare, are evaluated, with a focus on operational disruptions and economic impacts. Emergent defense strategies involving Software-Defined Networking and machine learning-based anomaly detection are assessed for their capability to bolster security posture. Furthermore, the role of national cybersecurity strategies and regulatory frameworks is analyzed, concentrating on multi-stakeholder coordination, legal measures, and adaptive governance to manage evolving risks. The findings highlight the imperative of integrating technical, organizational, and policy approaches to protect IoT-enabled critical systems and sustain national security resilience.
Copyright (c) 2025 Rafał Lizut https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE INDO-PACIFIC AS A STRATEGIC ARENA: EVOLVING SECURITY ALLIANCES AND DEEPENING POWER RIVALRIES
This paper examines the transformation of the Indo-Pacific into the central arena for global strategic competition. It argues that the intensifying rivalry between the United States and the People's Republic of China is the primary driver reshaping the regional security architecture. This rivalry has catalyzed the formation and strengthening of countervailing coalitions, notably the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (QUAD) and the AUKUS pact, while simultaneously challenging the centrality of established ASEAN-led institutions. Through a qualitative analysis of strategic documents, academic literature, and policy reports from 2020-2025, this study dissects the interplay of military modernization, nuclear deterrence, and the weaponization of the economic-security nexus, particularly in critical technology supply chains. The findings indicate a shift towards a more fragmented and contested regional order, characterized by a complex web of overlapping bilateral and minilateral arrangements designed to balance against China's rise. While these alignments enhance deterrence, they also heighten the risks of miscalculation and escalation. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for strengthening cooperative security mechanisms, managing geoeconomic friction, and establishing robust crisis communication channels to ensure regional stability.
Copyright (c) 2025 Maryna Dei https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE ROLE OF PRIVATE MILITARY COMPANIES IN CONTEMPORARY CONFLICTS: LEGAL AND SECURITY DILEMMAS
This article undertakes an examination of the escalating role assumed by Private Military Companies (PMCs) within the matrix of contemporary conflicts, positing that their proliferation—most notably the ascendancy of state-proxy models exemplified by the Wagner Group—constitutes an exploitation of a critical vacuum within the corpus of international law. Effectuated through a comparative analysis of PMC operations across Iraq, Ukraine, Syria, and Africa, this paper demonstrates the mechanisms by which such entities precipitate an erosion of state sovereignty, present a formidable challenge to the tenets of international humanitarian law (IHL), and engender systemic lacunae in accountability. Our findings indicate that extant regulatory frameworks, inclusive of the Montreux Document and the International Code of Conduct (ICoCA), are possessed of an inherent insufficiency for addressing the geopolitical instrumentality characteristic of modern PMCs. The article culminates in the proposal of a binding UN Convention on Private Military and Security Activities, wherein a four-pillar governance model is outlined with the objective of re-establishing state responsibility, guaranteeing accountability, and regulating the ongoing privatization of warfare.
Copyright (c) 2025 Igor Britchenko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE VISEGRAD GROUP AND THE WAR IN UKRAINE: FROM VETO BLOC TO VOID
This article asks why Russia’s 2022 invasion fractured the Visegrád Group and answers by showing that the cohesion once visible during the 2015 migration crisis rested on a model of negative integration that could resist supranational pressure yet could not be translated into the demands of war. When faced with a proximate conflict that required convergent threat perception, collective risk-sharing and credible military capacity, the four states moved along divergent paths: Poland recast sovereignty as survival and bound itself more deeply to NATO and United States’ guarantees, Hungary treated sovereignty as autonomy and used veto power while maintaining energy ties with Moscow, Slovakia balanced cooperation and restraint within a polarised domestic arena, and Czechia consolidated an Atlanticist line alongside Poland. These trajectories produced a structural split that removed the V4 from the centre of Europe’s security debates and revealed a deeper mechanism: coalitions forged in opposition can endure in institutional disputes but falter once coercive shocks demand common strategy. What remains of the Visegrád format is protocol and symbol only, while effective agency has shifted to NATO, to coalitions of the willing within the EU, and to minilateral formats that reflect the real distribution of threat, capacity and political will across the continent.
Copyright (c) 2025 Yassine Guennoun https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
FROM CRISIS TO DOCTRINE: A DECADE OF MIGRATION SECURITIZATION AND STRATEGIC DEFIANCE IN HUNGARY
This article examines how Hungary, between 2015 and 2025, reworked migration policy into a doctrine of sovereignty-driven securitization. What started as short-term crisis responses became a governing toolkit that joined restrictive law, threat-heavy messaging, and calculated non-compliance with EU rules. Read through securitization theory and differentiated integration, this shift turns migration from a welfare or demographic matter into the main stage for asserting state sovereignty. The study employs a critical case study design, drawing on governmental speeches, EU court rulings, media campaigns, and regional declarations, alongside secondary scholarship. The findings demonstrate that Hungary not only entrenched legal resistance and fortified its borders with symbolic and technological infrastructures, but also mobilised regional alliances to contest supranational authority. In doing so, it recast European integration as conditional and strategically reversible. The article argues that Hungary exemplifies a broader post-liberal mode of governance in which the language and institutions of liberal order are retained yet redirected toward sovereignty-first objectives. The case offers a replicable template for how member states can recalibrate supranational authority from within, embedding fragmentation as a structural condition of the European project.
STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE MANAGEMENT AND LAW ENFORCEMENT IN NIGERIA: FIXING THE GAPS
Abstract This study focuses on important issues in how strategic intelligence is managed within Nigerian law enforcement agencies, with the goal of improving national security. It looks at the current situation of intelligence collection and analysis, looking at the structures, processes, and abilities in place. The study identifies key obstacles to effective sharing and cooperation among security agencies, exploring institutional, operational, and cultural challenges. It also evaluates the quality of training and technology available for intelligence work, looking at the effectiveness of training programs and the state of technological resources. The research also looks at how socio-political issues like political influence, corruption, and public attitudes affect the objectivity and success of intelligence agencies. Based on these findings, the study offers practical advice and strategies to close these gaps and improve the security system in Nigeria, ultimately making law enforcement more effective.
Strategic Intelligence, Law Enforcement, Nigeria, Intelligence Management, National Security,
Copyright (c) 2025 Ngboawaji Nte, Ben Robert Eyororokumoh https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ETHIOPIA'S DIFFICULT COURSE: MULTIPARTY POLITICS AND BUILDING DEMOCRACY (1991-NOW) – INSIGHTS GAINED
Abstract The shift to multiparty politics in Ethiopia after the Derg regime was overthrown in 1991 marked a crucial moment for building a democratic state. This article takes a close look at how multiparty systems have either helped or hindered this journey over the last thirty years. By diving into historical events, institutional setups, electoral processes, and the political landscape, it argues that even though multipartyism was officially adopted, its real impact on democracy has been significantly limited. Several key issues contribute to this: the lingering effects of centralized governance, the strong influence of ethnonationalism in how parties are formed and compete, the weak establishment of democratic norms, ongoing state repression, and the tough task of balancing ethnic federalism with national unity. The analysis highlights important lessons: simply having multiparty systems isn't enough without a true commitment to political diversity and the rule of law; ethno-political parties can empower communities but also exacerbate societal divides; strong, independent institutions are essential; and fostering inclusive dialogue is crucial for navigating the complexities of identity politics. The period after 2018 shows both new opportunities and the ongoing vulnerability of Ethiopia's democratic efforts, calling for deep reforms focused on real political liberalization and strengthening institutions. Ethiopia's experience with multipartyism over the last thirty years makes one thing clear: simply having multiple political parties isn't enough to build a solid democracy. While it may seem like there's political diversity, the system often fails to provide true political rights, accountability, or a fair playing field. To make real strides in democracy, Ethiopia needs to move past the surface-level multiparty elections and focus on genuine political liberalization, building strong and impartial institutions that uphold the rule of law, and nurturing a political culture that promotes tolerance, inclusive citizenship, and dialogue that goes beyond ethnic lines.
Ethiopia, Democracy, Multiparty System, Ethnic Federalism, EPRDF, Prosperity Party, Opposition Parties, State Building.
Copyright (c) 2025 Tariku Dagne https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
SECURITY DYNAMICS IN THE BLACK SEA REGION: ANALYZING THE INTERSECTION OF NATO POLICIES, RUSSIAN INFLUENCE, AND ECONOMIC INTERESTS
Abstract The Black Sea has re-emerged as a central theater of geopolitical competition where NATO's defensive posture, Russia's revisionist ambitions, and the geoeconomics of energy and trade are locked in a complex, dynamic interplay. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has shattered the post-Cold War security architecture, creating a precarious new reality. This article analyzes the key drivers of instability, assesses the shifting balance of power, and evaluates strategic prospects. It argues that while Ukrainian asymmetric warfare has checked Russian naval dominance, the region remains acutely vulnerable to hybrid threats and escalation, demanding a more coherent, resourced, and integrated strategy from Western actors.
Copyright (c) 2025 Inna Kulko-Labyntseva https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE INSIDER THREAT: A SOCIO-TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF PREVENTING DATA BREACHES AND ESPIONAGE WITHIN GOVERNMENTAL AGENCIES
Abstract This article presents a socio-technical analysis of the insider threat phenomenon within governmental and public sector institutions. It argues that effective mitigation requires a dynamic, integrated strategy that moves beyond siloed technical controls to holistically address the interplay between individual psychology, organizational culture, technical architecture, and policy enforcement. The analysis defines the governmental insider threat, distinguishing between malicious, unintentional, and compromised insiders, and demonstrates how this typology maps to distinct root causes within the socio-technical system. Through a detailed examination of the Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning cases, the article deconstructs the convergence of psychological, cultural, and technical vulnerabilities that precipitate catastrophic breaches. It systematically analyzes contributory factors at the individual level, using the Critical Pathway to Insider Risk (CPIR) model; the organizational level, focusing on culture, leadership, and trust; and the technical level, highlighting architectural weaknesses. The article then evaluates a multi-layered defense-in-depth framework integrating human-centric strategies (e.g., positive deterrence, robust training), technical countermeasures (e.g., Zero Trust Architecture, User and Entity Behavior Analytics), and comprehensive policy frameworks (e.g., Executive Order 13587, NITTF Maturity Framework). The inherent tension between security surveillance and employee privacy is explored, reframing privacy protection as a positive driver of organizational trust and security. The article culminates in a novel, coordinated intervention model and provides actionable policy recommendations for governmental agencies to build a more resilient and secure posture against the threat from within..
Copyright (c) 2025 Mykhailo Lishchynsky https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ENERGY SECURITY AS A FACTOR OF POLITICAL STABILITY IN THE EUROPEAN UNION
Abstract. This article explores the intricate relationship between energy security and political stability within the European Union (EU), particularly in light of the geopolitical upheaval caused by Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The crisis marked a turning point in EU energy policy, exposing deep vulnerabilities linked to dependence on Russian fossil fuels and catalyzing a redefinition of energy security as a matter of strategic autonomy and resilience. Adopting a mixed-methods approach—combining discourse analysis, policy review, and comparative case studies—the study examines how the EU’s responses to this crisis have affected internal cohesion, social peace, and institutional legitimacy. Focusing on the policy trilemma between short-term energy needs, long-term climate goals, and socio-political stability, the article argues that governance choices made in response to the energy crisis have generated new political fault lines across Member States. Case studies of Germany, Poland, and the Baltic States illustrate diverging national strategies and their implications for EU-wide stability. The findings highlight that the EU's future political coherence hinges on its ability to align energy resilience with climate commitments while mitigating the socio-economic impacts of the green transition. Ultimately, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of the securitization of energy policy and the evolving dynamics of EU integration in an age of crises.
Copyright (c) 2025 Nataliia Trushkina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE GEOPOLITICS OF CYBERSECURITY: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF NATIONAL STRATEGIES FOR DIGITAL SOVEREIGNTY
Abstract. This paper investigates the divergent national strategies for achieving "digital sovereignty" among four major geopolitical actors: the United States, the European Union, China, and Russia. It argues that digital sovereignty has evolved from a defensive concept focused on network security into a comprehensive geopolitical strategy for projecting power, values, and economic influence (Süsslin, 2025; Metakides, 2025). Through a comparative analysis of key policy and legal frameworks—including the US National Cybersecurity Strategy (2023), the EU's GDPR/DSA/DMA package, China's Cybersecurity Law (CSL), and Russia's "Sovereign Internet" laws—the paper identifies three distinct models of digital sovereignty: the US market-driven, rebalanced-responsibility model; the EU's regulation-as-power, normative model; and the Sino-Russian state-centric, control-oriented model (Metakides, 2025; Freedom House, n.d.). The analysis reveals that these approaches are creating a fragmented "splinternet," characterized by competing regulatory blocs, contested data governance regimes, and a securitized global technology supply chain (Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 2025). The paper concludes by proposing a new framework that understands digital sovereignty not merely as a quest for autonomy but as a primary vector for exercising state power in a multipolar digital world order, with significant implications for global stability, international law, and the future of the internet..
Copyright (c) 2025 Oksana Prokopyshyn, Nataliia Trushkina https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
CLIMATE CHANGE AS A THREAT MULTIPLIER: ASSESSING ITS IMPACT ON RESOURCE SCARCITY, MIGRATION, AND POLITICAL INSTABILITY
Abstract. This article examines the conceptualization and application of climate change as a "threat multiplier" in global security discourse. Originating within the U.S. national security community, the term describes how the physical impacts of climate change interact with and exacerbate pre-existing social, economic, and political vulnerabilities, thereby multiplying threats to peace and stability. While the framework has been instrumental in placing climate change on the security agenda, it is also critiqued for potentially constraining policy responses to a reactive, management-oriented posture rather than promoting transformative change. This study employs a qualitative, comparative case study methodology to deconstruct the threat multiplier effect through its cascading impacts. It first analyzes the first-order impact of climate change on critical resources, with a focus on water stress in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and food insecurity in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. It then investigates the second-order human consequence of climate-induced migration, examining patterns in the Sahel, Bangladesh, and Central America, and highlighting the profound legal and geopolitical challenges posed by the lack of international protection for "climate refugees." Finally, through in-depth case studies of Syria and Sudan, the article analyzes how these combined pressures can culminate in the third-order outcome of political instability and violent conflict. The analysis reveals that governance is the critical mediating variable determining whether climate stress leads to instability. The article concludes by assessing the policy responses of the United Nations, European Union, and the United States, identifying key gaps, and advocating for an integrated policy framework that merges climate adaptation, development, and peacebuilding to address the multifaceted nature of climate-related security risks.
RETRACTED: EXPLORING THE INFLUENCE OF ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL KNOWLEDGE ON FISH PRODUCTION IN RURAL-BANGLADESH
This article has been retracted due to duplicate publication. Abstract Aquaculture is a buzzword for rural economy as well as regional development. In this research, the author considers five individual villages where 200 farmers have been identified randomly. In this paper, the author divides this research into two segments. Firstly, most of the local farmers consider basic factors, where variable costs that is daily basis expenses affect fish production variables for farmers. Secondly, the authors try to identify the environmental knowledge index (EKI) for farmers affecting fish production, the EKI is measured by table 2. In Table 3, most of the expenses are calculated for human labor, fish feed and fingerlings purposes. Marginal farmers face higher variable costs compared to the other two categories of farmers. The authors run the Cobb-Douglas multiple regression model to investigate the effect of independent variables on fish production hectare-wise, while human labor cost, feed and manure cost, water supply, and Sustainability knowledge index have positive and significant relationships with fish production. To justify the 2nd research question, EKI has a significant connection with fish production for farmers, because EKI helps farmers to lead production at a lower cost while maintaining a hygienic production system. The green economy is the upcoming challenge for the future, which leads to sustainable production and consumption behavior for producers and consumers. Moreover, sustainable and effective marketing channel creation are challenging factors for fish production and supply.
Aquaculture, Marginal-farmers, Environmental Knowledge, Green economy, Rural-Bangladesh
Copyright (c) 2025 Linda Bairagi, Harun-Ar-Rashid, Mahrufur Rahman, Tanjila Sheikh, Tanbir Hossain https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
WORK SAFETY ON FARMS IN POLAND – LEGAL, SOCIAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
Abstract. Agriculture is an economic sector with a high accident rate. Working on a farm requires acquiring knowledge, skills and experience in various fields. The specificity of this industry leads to many health and life hazards and a high risk of accidents. Farmers work in different positions, depending on what is produced on the farm. They operate machinery and equipment, as well as perform maintenance and repairs, participate in transport and storage processes, take care of farm animals, perform agricultural technical and chemical treatments and other non-agricultural activities. The simultaneous occurrence of many production and logistics processes increases the risk of accidents and makes work in agriculture more difficult. Transport and storage processes are common on farms. They are defined as a carefully organized system of interconnected logistics processes, the purpose of which is to produce agricultural products using land, labor, capital, management decisions (farmers) and the forces of nature. Statistics show that the most dangerous events can be considered those that occur during transport work and those related to the operation of tractors and agricultural machinery.
Copyright (c) 2025 Janusz Kilar, Małgorzata Szeliga, Magdalena Kilar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ANALYSIS OF SAFETY AND CAUSES OF ACCIDENTS AT WORK IN AGRICULTURE IN POLAND
Abstract: The article analyzes the dynamics of accidents at work in agriculture in Poland in 2020–2021, taking into account factors influencing their occurrence and the effectiveness of preventive measures. Data comes from the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund, the Central Statistical Office and research by scientific institutes. It has been shown that the number of accidents decreased by over 50% in the period under review, but agriculture remains one of the most dangerous sectors of the economy. The main causes are technical defects of machines, lack of occupational health and safety training and work in inappropriate conditions. The conclusions indicate the need for further modernization of farms and intensification of training.
CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIES IN POLAND’S POLICY TOWARDS UKRAINE IN THE CONTEXT OF MIGRATION
Migration from Ukraine to Poland, especially after 24thFebruary 2022, has become one of the key issues of international policy. The aim of this publication is to analyze the strategies and challenges faced by Poland in managing Ukrainian migration, both at the national and international level. The work focuses on Poland’s migration policy towards Ukraine, bilateral cooperation and activities in the EU and in relations with other countries. The analysis shows that Poland, as the main receiving country for migrants from Ukraine, is conducting intensive activities both at the national and international level. These include the integration of migrants, financial support and relocation policies, which require a long term strategy. The adopted conclusions can constitute a basis for considerations on the future of Poland’s migration policy towards Ukraine and its role in the European migration management system.
Copyright (c) 2025 Wojciech Pac https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE INSTITUTION OF THE PRESIDENCY IN UKRAINE: CONSTITUTIONAL FOUNDATIONS AND PROSPECTS FOR REFORM
The article examines the constitutional foundations of the presidency in Ukraine and outlines the prospects for its reform in the context of current political and legal challenges. The relevance of the study is stipulated by the need to improve the balance of powers in a parliamentary-presidential republic, to strengthen democratic control over the activities of the Head of State and to ensure the stability of the constitutional order. The purpose of the study is to analyze the constitutional status of the President of Ukraine, his powers and interaction with other state authorities, and to identify areas for possible reforms based on national experience and European standards. The methodological basis is formed by systemic, comparative legal, historical and legal, and formal legal methods which allowed for a comprehensive analysis of the evolution of the presidency and the practice of its functioning. As a result, it is established that the institution of the presidency in Ukraine is in a state of functional imbalance, which is manifested in the instability of the form of government, contradictions in the distribution of powers and political conflict. The experience of other countries, in particular France, Poland and Lithuania, shows that mixed models can function effectively provided that the role of the president in the system of government is clearly regulated. The author concludes that it is expedient to carry out a constitutional reform aimed at improving the institution of the presidency by clarifying its powers, introducing effective accountability mechanisms and ensuring institutional balance in the system of state power.
Copyright (c) 2025 Kateryna Tiazhkorob https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE ISRAELI SECURITY DOCTRINE ADAPTING WITHOUT ALTERING CORE PILLARS
This theoretical paper explores the resilience and evolution of Israel’s national security doctrine, the Israeli Security Triad, arguing that its core pillars—deterrence, early warning, and decisive military victory—remain fundamentally intact despite recent conflicts and the rise of asymmetric warfare. Analyzing decades of historical events, military strategies, and geopolitical developments, the research focuses on how the doctrine has responded to both conventional and asymmetric threats. The findings indicate that while modern asymmetric challenges have prompted the adoption of new technologies, such as AI-powered early warning systems and missile defense, and the introduction of a fourth "defense" pillar, these represent adaptations to modern conflicts rather than an alteration of the original doctrine's core strategic principles. This study contributes to military doctrine theory by illustrating how states can integrate advanced technologies and adapt strategies to new forms of conflict without abandoning foundational principles, offering practical insights for military strategists on balancing innovation with established frameworks. The paper provides a fresh perspective on maintaining doctrinal integrity through flexible adaptation in the face of constant threats. Future research could explore similar doctrinal adaptations in other nations or the ongoing evolution of Israel’s fourth pillar, particularly concerning AI and cybersecurity.
Copyright (c) 2025 Simeon Popov https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ENSURING THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF TRUCKING COMPANIES IN THE UNITED STATES
The paper examines the key performance indicators of ensuring the economic security of U.S. trucking companies taking into account the market environment of small and medium-sized companies. A monographic review of literature sources in the field of studying the conceptual apparatus of economic security, methodological tools, modern technological changes, resource provision, marketing and logistics, management decision-making, regulatory policy in transport, transport infrastructure and features of functioning of U.S. trucking companies for the period of research (2019-2023) is carried out. To study the economic security of U.S. trucking companies the following indicators – operating ratio, fuel costs, driver turnover rates, and freight demand were selected. For each indicator, an economic assessment was carried out and a description of its content was provided, taking into account the specifics of small and medium-sized U.S. trucking companies. The results of the evaluation allowed proposing strategies to ensuring the economic security of U.S. trucking companies, taking into account the prospects for their sustainable development and response to current challenges.
Copyright (c) 2025 Hanna Malchenko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF SAFETY IN DEALING WITH MAJOR INDUSTRIAL ACCIDENTS
The article presents issues concerning selected elements in the field of organising and conducting practical exercises to prepare rescue entities and teams of upper-tier establishments for major industrial accidents in the aspects of formal and legal requirements for the managers of an establishment, the authorities of the State Fire Service in the context of the tasks performed in relation to the needs of the society. In this respect, a review was made of European Union and national legal acts relating to selected preparatory elements of the system for preventing major industrial accidents and the requirements for the operators of upper-tier establishments and the organs of the State Fire Service in the event of a major industrial accident. Moreover, on the basis of practical participation in the exercises, the course of various forms of practical exercises related to the consolidation of principles of proceeding in case of an emergency situation was evaluated. The topics were based on new legal regulations in the field of environmental law and the requirements to be met by practical exercises preparing services and company teams to limit and eliminate hazards.
Copyright (c) 2025 Bogdan Kołcz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
MILITARY CRIMINAL LAW AS ONE ELEMENT OF SECURITY
Criminal law in the armed forces is undoubtedly one of the foundations of security. Complementing it against this background is the law of military discipline. two branches of law coexist and function in parallel. However, their role is remarkably similar. Together, they are intended to support the maintenance of good order, both within each military formation and in broader, international relations. Among other things, they serve to ensure the smooth achievement of the objectives set for each army. This article is a sort of systematisation of the subject matter of the title. It is a cross-sectional analysis of the normative foundations of military criminal law in its broadest sense. The starting point is international law. The author then discusses in detail the specifics and knotty legal regulations in this area on the example of Polish law. Not forgetting the history, he also refers to the legacy of rulings by military criminal courts in the previous regime, passed against persons repressed for activity in favour of the independent existence of the State. The article concludes with a summary of the considerations.
Copyright (c) 2025 Igor Zgoliński https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
MULTIDIMENSIONAL COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBER OF UKRAINIANS UNDER TEMPORARY PROTECTION AND RECEIVING EDUCATION IN POLAND IN 2023 IN TERMS OF THE SECURITY OF THE REPUBLIC OF POLAND
The migration of children, pupils, and students from Ukraine to Poland after the Russian invasion in 2022 presented substantial challenges to Poland’s education, social, and economic systems. This study conducted a multidimensional comparative analysis of the number of Ukrainian children under temporary protection. Using bar and pyramid charts, the analysis covered data from December 31, 2022, to March 31, 2023. The findings indicated a national decrease of 1,396 Ukrainian students, with the largest declines in Dolnośląskie and Mazowieckie voivodeships. The results highlight structural and demographic shifts that require policy responses
Copyright (c) 2025 Bartosz Kozicki, Bartosz Błaszczak https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
PROSPECTS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE DEFENCE INDUSTRY IN POLAND
This article presents considerations regarding the prospects of the Polish defence industry. It discusses, among other things, the state of the domestic defence industry, indicates opportunities and threats to its development, as well as the general assumptions of the Technical Modernisation Plan of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland. In addition, it defines the essence of agreements concluded with entities of the domestic defence industry, namely offset, framework and implementation agreements. It also analyses the sources of financing of agreements concluded for the purpose of modernisation and re-equipping not only the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland but also other formations guarding public security and order, such as the Border Guard. The entire considerations end with conclusions, the implementation of which may contribute to the optimisation of the condition of the domestic defence industry, as well as to improving the security of the state and the effectiveness of the Polish army. One of the factors affecting the state of security of the country is its economic potential and industrial base. This applies in particular to the defense industry, which has been highlighted by the ongoing aggressive war of Russia against Ukraine. After only half a year of military operations, both sides began to experience shortages of equipment and supplies, and in particular large-caliber artillery ammunition. Currently, records are being broken in Poland in terms of defense spending - next year, funds at the disposal of the Ministry of National Defense (state budget, Armed Forces Support Fund) are to be 10% higher than in 2024. They will amount to PLN 169 billion, or 4.2% of GDP. Of this amount, PLN 53 billion, or $ 13.25 billion in 2025 alone, is to be allocated directly to the purchase of arms and military equipment. The purpose of this article is to define and indicate the prospects of the Polish defense industry. The work uses the literature studies method as the leading method, and the historical and dogmatic methods as auxiliary methods. A research limitation is access to classified information and information constituting a company's trade secret.
technical modernisation of the Polish Armed Forces
financing the defence industry in Poland
Copyright (c) 2025 Anna Chochowska, Krzysztof Chochowski, Anna Zych, Igor Britchenko https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Rights to dignity and freedom of thought (mental autonomy) are fundamental human rights. They imply the fundamental right to mental health. The possibility that rights to dignity, mental autonomy and, as a consequence, mental health may be severely jeopardized by certain digital technologies and Artificial Intelligence (AI) is recognized on a worldwide scale, yet, current legal frameworks are still struggling to carve out regulatory measures that fully take into accounting the impact of digital technologies and AI on mental health. This narrative review starts with a brief historic overview highlighting why internet and AI have taken the potential for individual and collective mental manipulation of former media of mass communication to the next level. In the current society context, dark patterns in commercial digital tools are cogently designed to manipulate consumer choices. Internet and social media platforms exploit AI to generate addictive trigger cues, fake contents, and deceptive interactions. Digital technology has hijacked our mental autonomy and represents an unprecedented threat to mental health and well-being, in particular of children and young individuals connected for long hours day and night as now officially recognized by international health organizations worldwide. The problem has already found expression in novel forms of compulsive behaviour and addiction (digital addiction) with related symptoms of anxiety, depression, sleep disorders, anhedonia, suicidal ideation. This article identifies psychological mechanisms likely to account for mental health deterioration in the digital age in terms of conditioned obedience to digital authority, de-individuation, pathological brain adaptation to chronic stress, reward deficiency syndrome (RDS), and learned helplessness. These mechanisms are non-conscious, deeply rooted in human neurobiology, and rely on the mechanism of psychobiological conditioning
Copyright (c) 2025 Birgitta Dresp-Langley https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
TERROR FINANCING IN A MULTICULTURAL AND TRANSITIONAL DEMOCRACY: EVIDENCE FROM NIGERIA
This paper is a modest but valid examination of the intricate web of the phenomenon of terror financing in Nigeria – a country that has an interesting mosaic of multicultural and transitional democracy. Relying extensively on a mixed-methods approach, the study navigated the nebulous sources, routes and modus operandi of terror financing in the country. The findings of the study clearly showed that terror financing in Nigeria is situated within the ambit of pervasive corruption, money laundering, informal financial systems, multiculturalism and religious bigotry and dynamics, and indeed post-colonial historical vestiges and grievances. The study also identified magnified vulnerabilities and lacuna in the nation's financial institutional regulatory framework and enforcement capacities. Consequently, the study therefore stressed the urgent need for a comprehensive and implementable approach to attenuate terror financing in Nigeria. Some of these recommendations include; overhauling and fortifying the entire regulatory frameworks, vigorous and concerted international and multilateral cooperation, re-orientation aimed at addressing socio-cultural and extreme religious narratives that accentuate violence and crime. Finally, the study also advocated for aggressive steps to ensure rapid economic development, social welfare, inclusion and the general wellbeing of the entire citizenry.
Copyright (c) 2025 Ngboawaji Daniel Nte https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Food security and food safety are a key element of each country's food policy, having a direct impact on public health. To ensure that products available on the market are completely safe, cooperation of all participants in the supply chain is essential. Shaping the quality and safety of food requires precise control, which enables the creation and introduction of food quality and safety management systems. This means focusing on the problems of ensuring appropriate conditions for the production of food of the expected quality and safety for the consumer. The paper presents how the food safety control system functions in Poland and a detailed analysis of official control of food production and trade is made.
Copyright (c) 2025 Janusz Kilar, Mateusz Kaczmarski, Wojciech Pac , Piotr Frączek, Magdalena Kilar https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
THE IMPACT OF IMPLEMENTING AGRI-ENVIRONMENTAL-CLIMATE COMMITMENTS ON THE ECONOMIC SECURITY OF POLISH FARMERS FROM THE PODKARPACIE REGION
The aim of the work was to assess the impact of the implementation of agri-environmental-climate commitments under the Rural Development Program for 2014-2020 on the economic security of farmers from the Podkarpacie region in Poland. The decisions of Podkarpacie farmers regarding the number of agri-environmental-climate commitments undertaken and the value of payments granted for the implementation of the following packages and variants were analyzed in detail. In 2015-2020, Podkarpacie farmers received a total of PLN 274 032 475.30 under the implementation of agri-environmental-climate programs, significantly affecting the economic security of their farms. Podkarpacie farmers implemented the largest number of agri-environmental-climate commitments in the Lubaczów and Mielec districts (25 packages/variants each). The least interest in implementing agri-environmental-climate commitments was shown by farmers living in the following poviats: Lesko (11 packages/variants) and Ropczyce-Sędziszów (12 packages/variants).
implementation of agri-environment-climate
Copyright (c) 2025 Janusz Kilar, Mateusz Kaczmarski, Wojciech Pac , Piotr Frączek, Magdalena Kilar, Anna Turoń https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DEMOGRAPHIC AND SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE RUSSO-UKRAINIAN WAR FOR UKRAINE
On February 24, 2022, Russia began its invasion of Ukraine, which has led to significant demographic and social consequences. In particular, there has been a noticeable increase in forced migrations and displacements – both internal and international. Many families are being separated, and the unstable situation is contributing to a decline in the birth rate. There are also challenges related to the integration of refugees in host countries, particularly in Poland. The long-term consequences of war can include a decline in professional activity, disruption of the labor market, and burdens on social welfare systems. The conflict also creates challenges related to gender equality, as military mobilization and the need to care for children in crisis situations primarily affect women. In the face of these challenges, it is essential to develop appropriate pro-family policies, invest in healthcare and social care, and implement sustainable integration programs for refugees. The article also discusses potential scenarios for the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine, emphasizing the need for humanitarian aid and financial support from the international community. Restoring economic and demographic stability requires comprehensive actions, such as creating new jobs, rebuilding infrastructure, and strengthening the healthcare system. The conclusions of the analysis highlight that the ongoing conflict is likely to shape the demographic structure of Ukraine and neighboring countries for many years. Despite the challenges associated with dynamic social changes, there is hope that properly planned and implemented reconstruction efforts, along with international support, will help restore normalcy, foster economic development, and stabilize the social situation.
HUMANITARIAN ASSISTANCE FOR WAR REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE: A CASE STUDY OF THE PODKARPACKI BRANCH OF THE POLISH RED CROSS
The phenomenon of refugees has been a consistent feature of human history for centuries, and in the era of globalization and widespread armed conflicts, it has gained increasing significance. This article examines the definition and status of refugees in the context of international law, with particular emphasis on the 1951 Geneva Convention and relevant domestic regulations. The role of non-governmental organizations (including the Polish Red Cross) and state structures in the refugee assistance process was also presented. The article presents an example of the actions taken by the Podkarpacki Branch of PCK in response to the influx of refugees from war-torn Ukraine in 2022. The authors examine the significance of international cooperation and a multi-level legal framework in safeguarding the basic rights and security of individuals forced to flee their homeland. Finally, the article presents conclusions regarding the necessity of long-term integration programs and sustainable humanitarian efforts.