Poland and Slovakia: Bilateral Relations in a Multilateral Context (2004-2016)

This timely book investigates the complex relations between the Republic of Poland and the Slovak Republic in the context of ongoing processes in the European Union’s political and economic system. The basic assumption of the study is that Polish-Slovak relations are affected and shaped not only by the interaction between the two of them but also by the dynamics of the European and global international environment.
The authors explore different aspects of the interconnectedness of Warsaw and Bratislava. This includes the analysis of political, economic, and social dimensions of bilateral relations in the multilateral context. One of the goals of this volume is to define areas and spheres of Poland’s and Slovakia’s common interest, as well as to point out those areas with the highest potential for development. It also defines and analyzes problematic issues in common relations that could be seen as obstacles in developing cooperation in specific areas and politically strategic areas like foreign and security policy. Moreover, the book seeks to measure the extent to which Polish-Slovak relations are affected by the European integration process.

Dr Joanna Dyduch, Assistant Professor at the Department of European Studies at the University of Wrocław (Poland), is author of numerous academic articles devoted to foreign policy analysis and energy policy. Author, editor and co-editor of several books (e.g. Selected Politics of the European Union. Evolution in the context of the Lisbon Treaty and the Europe 2020 Strategy, ASPRA, Warszawa 2012, European Union Development. Challenges and Strategies, ASPRA, Warszawa 2013, European Union as an Global Actor. Political integration: identity issues and foreign policy, ASPRA, Warszawa 2014). Member of the Executive Committee of the European Association of Israel Studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London. Visiting scholar in various universities (e.g. SOAS University of London, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel, Universidad CEU Cardenal Herrera, Valencia, Spain, Matej Bel University, Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic). Prof Igor Kosír, Professor at the Department of International Relations and Diplomacy at the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic, Vice Rector 2010-2014. Author of several academic articles devoted to world economy development, international economic integration, and European Union external relations. Author, editor, and co-editor of books (e.g. Foreign Trade Policy of European Union, Ekonóm, Bratislava 2007, International Economic Integration: from Autarky to Global Economic Integration, MBU, Banská Bystrica 2010, European Perspectives of Western Balkans countries, ABB, Prishtina 2015, Alternatives of European Integration Development, Ekonóm, Bratislava 2015). Visiting scholar in various universities (e.g. University of Reims, Champagne-Ardenne, France, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, University of Batumi, Georgia). Dr. Sebastian Jakubowski is a graduate of the University of Wrocław (Faculty of Law, Administration and Economics). Since 2005 he has been working at the University's Institute of Economic Sciences. Today he holds the position of an Assistant Professor. His research interests are focused on economic policy and structural changes that shaped Central and Eastern Europe after the collapse of communism. Dr Sebastian Jakubowski is also an organizer of a biannual International Wroclaw Symposiums of Economic Policy. His academic career is filled with numerous visits to foreign universities, such as the University of California (Santa Barbara, US), Leipzig University, the University of Latvia, the Vilnius Gediminas Technical University, the Šiauliai University, as well as the Fraunhofer MOEZ Institute in Leipzig. Doc. Mgr. Jaroslav Usiak, PhD, Associate Professor at the Faculty of Political Sciences and International Relations, Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, Slovak Republic), and since 2013 Editor in Chief of the academic journal Politické vedy (Political Sciences) - journal of political sciences, international relations, modern history and security studies. He is author and co-author of several books: Bezpečnosť ako kategória (Security as a category), Security Policy of the Slovak Republic - Development, Cornerstone and Implications, Security and Strategic Culture of the Visegrad Group Countries, and also author of several academic articles devoted to international relation and security studies, focusing on regional security mainly in Central Europe. He is member of the Editorial Board of the academic journals Současná Evropa and Defence and Strategy. He participated in many research and lecture stays and conferences (Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Belgium, Slovenia, France, Ukraine, and other).