Challenges to national defence in contemporary geopolitical situation

The paper examines the role of Polish artillery in a multi-domain battlefield. It uses literature and doctrinal analysis to assess how integration across land, air, sea, space, cyber, and cognitive domains affects artillery effectiveness. Findings show that artillery is increasingly dependent on interoperability, information flow, and systemic resilience. The study highlights new threats and opportunities, including A2/AD development. It concludes that multi-domain integration, rather than firepower alone, determines future combat effectiveness.

This paper examines the role of training programme accreditation in enhancing interoperability within NATO. A case study of the Slovak JTAC programme supported by SWOT analysis and document review was applied. In this paper we have found that accreditation improves procedural standardisation, technological compatibility and operational performance, while revealing resource and organisational challenges. The study expands understanding of interoperability through a multi-layered framework as a research implication. Recommendations support optimisation of training, resource use and capability development which is a clear practical implication. Originality and value have been achieved by providing a unique empirical view of accreditation as a key tool for strengthening NATO's interoperability.

This article examines the key determinants influencing psychological well-being among students in both types of institutions by synthesizing findings from empirical research published in peer-reviewed academic journals. The comparative perspective adopted here aims to illuminate shared challenges as well as the psychosocial specificities of military higher education. Understanding these patterns is particularly relevant in contexts such as the Czech Republic, where military universities operate under the authority of the Ministry of Defence and follow unique structural, educational, and professional mandates. By integrating existing evidence, the article seeks to inform more effective, context-sensitive mental health strategies within both civilian and military academic settings.

The present study examined the communication sources used in the personnel marketing of the University of Defence, the content of the university's website, and the perceived reactions of family members to the intention to study at the university. The study draws on data obtained from a questionnaire survey conducted among prospective students during the university's Open Days, that is, prior to the submission of their applications. The findings indicate that electronic sources, in particular the university website, are the most frequently used sources of information. The majority of prospective students who visited the website were able to obtain the information they required. The reactions of family members to prospective applicants' intention to study at the University of Defence are predominantly positive. However, they also express concerns about the applicants. The originality of the article lies in the fact that this issue has not yet been examined, thereby enabling more targeted use of specific communication tools within the personnel marketing of the University of Defence.

Organizational processes are often described as being “top-down” or “bottom-up”. At the level of EU integration relations between EU and member-state institutions can also be conceptualized in these terms. European integration is based on decisions made by representatives of its member-states and member-states have a large degree of discretion in the implementation of EU policies. This gives off an appearance of a “bottom-up” quality to pan-European policy. But when it comes to part and parcel of public administration many national government agencies can only perceive this process “top-down”. The complexity of policy design process and absence of co-ordination of how national agencies go about their business means that policy adoption is seldom straightforward across member-states. Once policies are set in motion, there are limited possibilities of review stemming from the “bottom”. In some sense, this is the story of the road to Brexit. The paper claims that current challenges to European integration may in part be attributed to this institutional setup. This paper revisits the concept of European Administrative Space to see if it can be framed in terms of “bottom-up” integration, whereby essentially member states would be encouraged to test their proposed national reforms from the point of view of EUfriendliness. Proliferation of such a practice would not require any major legal change or governance process standardization. With proper monitoring the practice could augment the existing international co-operation between government agencies by opening venues for cost sharing, and streamlining the “top-down” policy decisions once political will becomes available.