Knowledge built on different perspectives
The CIRSA expert network brings together researchers, practitioners, diplomats and former commanders from Poland and abroad. The profiles are organised by their principal field, while many experts work across disciplines.
State, law and public policy
political theory • public debate
Magdalena Mikołajczyk
A habilitated doctor of social sciences, political scientist and head of the Department of Political Theory at the University of Wrocław. Her work covers political theory and sociology, public discourse, protest movements, political opposition and civic education.
public administration • local development
Zdzisław Kałamaga
A local-government official and former parliamentarian; former mayor of Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, member of the Polish Sejm in its third and fourth terms, and former head of Ostrowiec County. His experience covers public administration, local government and local development.
European Union law • international cooperation
Anna Doliwa-Klepacka
A habilitated doctor of law and professor at the University of Białystok, affiliated with the Department of European Law. Her work focuses on European Union law, the European area of freedom, security and justice, and international cooperation.
Geopolitics and international relations
strategy • international security
Oliver Steward
A British analyst of international relations and security affiliated with the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House). His interests include strategy, armed conflict, maritime security and intelligence analysis.
geopolitics • great-power competition
Alba Popescu
Professor at the Carol I National Defence University in Bucharest. Her research covers geopolitics and international security, great-power competition, Russian and Chinese strategies, maritime domains and Eurasia.
diplomacy • Eastern policy
Mariusz Maszkiewicz
A sociologist, political scientist and diplomat; Polish ambassador to Belarus from 1998 to 2002 and to Georgia from 2016 to 2024. His work concerns Eastern policy, regional security, diplomacy and transformation in post-Soviet states.
public diplomacy • European integration
Vitalij Makar
A doctor of political science, professor and head of the Department of International Relations and Public Communication at Yuriy Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University. His expertise includes international relations, public diplomacy, Ukrainian foreign policy and European integration.
the Caucasus • international security
Vakhtang Maisaia
A doctor of political science, professor at Caucasus International University in Tbilisi and head of its Global Politics and Security Studies programme. His work covers geopolitics, international security, the Caucasus and Black Sea regions, and geoeconomics.
Security
defence planning • military operations
Dan-Florin Grecu
A retired major general and doctor of military science and intelligence. Former commander of the 81st Mechanised Brigade and deputy chief of the Romanian General Staff, with mission experience in Iraq and Afghanistan. An expert in defence planning and international security.
military history • armed conflict
Rajendra Thakur
A retired major general of the Indian Army, doctor and military historian. He studies armed conflict, United Nations operations, war memory, and the social and cultural dimensions of war, and lectures at international conferences.
defence strategy • operational art
Anatol Wojtan
A retired lieutenant general and doctor of military science. Former first deputy chief of the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces and a specialist in operational art, strategic planning and the national defence system.
national security • strategic planning
Andrzej Pietrzyk
A retired major general, academic teacher and former senior officer in the General Staff of the Polish Armed Forces. His expertise includes national security, military affairs and strategic planning.
crisis negotiation • public security
Dariusz Loranty
A retired senior police commissioner, police negotiator, mediator and court expert. Former commander of the Warsaw Police Negotiation Team, academic teacher and expert in crisis negotiation, criminal terrorism and security.
Education, skills and human capital development
educational psychology • academic leadership
Eduard Balashov
A doctor of psychology, professor and rector of the National University of Ostroh Academy. He researches self-regulated learning, educational psychology and leadership and has extensive experience coordinating international academic projects.
academic cooperation • international mobility
Jaho Cana
Professor and rector of Eqrem Çabej University in Gjirokastër. A historian and geographer long affiliated with the university, he develops international cooperation, academic mobility and Erasmus+ projects.
international relations • European studies
Khatuna Chapichadze
A doctor of social sciences, political scientist and associate professor at Georgian Technical University, where she is deputy director of the Institute of European Studies. Her work covers international relations, geopolitics, security, the Caucasus and equality.
youth • migration • disinformation
Mateusz Kamionka
A doctor of social sciences and assistant professor in the Department of Polish-Ukrainian Studies at Jagiellonian University. He studies youth, migration, media and disinformation, as well as socio-political change in Central and Eastern Europe and the post-Soviet region.