The restructuring process of the Polish defence industry in the twenty-first century: doing more of the same while expecting different results

Abstract

ABSTRACT This paper examines the restructuring of Poland’s defence industry during and after the country’s systemic transition of the 1990s, seeking to identify the main political, economic, and military challenges involved in the process. These reforms, which can be described as statist in nature, are dissected into phases corresponding with Anderson’s Public Policy Cycle. This approach enables a reconstruction of the initial conditions influenced by post-communist legacies and the selection and implementation of policies, as well as an assessment of the actions taken. The study highlights the determinants and long-term rationale behind these reforms, emphasising the challenges faced by the defence sector in countries that, like Poland, have undergone a systemic transition. The paper additionally discusses the potential risks of excessive state control in this sector of industry and evaluates the impact of these reforms on Poland’s role in international security co-operation.