Security of the CONTEMPORARY state

Contemporary security threats to the state are characterized by diversity, unpredictability, suddenness, multidimensionality, variability, ambiguity, and mutual interpenetration, affecting almost all areas of the state's and society's functioning. To counteract these threats, which undermine values, needs, interests, and objectives in the field of security, states create security systems based on all available forces, means, and resources, typically proportional to the scale of the threats. Given both military and non-military security threats, as well as the wide range of forces and means used to counteract them, key elements of these evolving security systems include uniform legal conditions, operational procedures, coordination principles, and cooperation organization. At the same time, to ensure effective counteraction to these threats, the continuous improvement of the functioning of all entities forming these security systems is essential.

Every state adapts its security systems not only to contemporary security threats and challenges but also to other conditions within its security environment. In the case of Poland, the national security system is distinguished, consisting of the national security management system (subsystem) and executive systems (subsystems). These include: the defense system, crisis management system, constitutional order protection system, civil protection system, public security and order protection system, state border protection system, flood and fire protection system, and cybersecurity system. The national security system comprises all forces and resources designated for counteracting threats to the state, which are appropriately organized, prepared, and maintained, performing their tasks in all states of the country's functioning—during peacetime, crises, and states of emergency. A crucial, or perhaps even key, element of the national security system is the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland and public administration.

The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland safeguard the sovereignty and independence of the state as well as its security and peace. They are a hierarchical, uniformed armed formation, constituting an organizationally distinct part of the national defense system. The Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland are obligated to maintain readiness to carry out three types of missions: ensuring the defense of the state and countering aggression, participating in the process of stabilizing the international situation and in crisis response and humanitarian operations, and supporting internal security and assisting society. As part of these missions, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Poland should maintain readiness, among other things, to perform tasks related to the defense and protection of the inviolability of Poland’s borders, participation in a defensive operation outside the country under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty, participation in peacekeeping and stabilization operations conducted by NATO, the EU, the UN, and other operations arising from international agreements. Moreover, they should maintain readiness to carry out tasks such as protecting airspace and supporting the protection of land borders and territorial waters, conducting reconnaissance and intelligence activities, monitoring radioactive, chemical, and biological contamination within the country, clearing areas of explosive materials, and assisting public administration in responding to internal security threats.

Public administration, more precisely the public authorities and heads of organizational units responsible for national security tasks, along with the administrative apparatus, operational procedures, and the relevant command infrastructure, constitute a key element of the national security management system (subsystem). They ensure the continuity of decision-making and the coordination of actions aimed at maintaining and restoring national security in all possible states and circumstances of the country's functioning, while also overseeing the operation of executive subsystems. They carry out tasks such as monitoring threats, taking into account their scale, type, and location; preventing threats from emerging, both within the country and beyond its borders; counteracting and mitigating the consequences of threats when prevention fails; and managing national defense in the event of direct military aggression.

Considering these aspects, Pomeranian Higher School in Starogard Gdanski, in cooperation with the National Military University in Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria), is organizing the 2nd International Scientific Conference - "Security of the Modern State: Armed Forces and Administration in Ensuring State Security."

The objective of the conference is to exchange experiences and present research findings from representatives of academic circles and entities responsible for state security, particularly the armed forces and administration, in relation to current state security issues. Additionally, the conference aims to enhance cooperation between universities and institutions responsible for state security. The specific objectives of the conference include stimulating an interdisciplinary debate on the international and national security environment, which is shaped by contemporary and future military and non-military (both public and widespread) threats affecting state security. Moreover, the conference seeks to identify the needs and possibilities for cooperation among entities responsible for shaping security, particularly public administration and the armed forces, as well as to facilitate the exchange of experiences, solutions, and perspectives. Another key goal is to foster the integration of the academic community in addressing state security challenges.