Integration with NATO and Defense Policy in the Political Thought of the Polish People’s Party after 1989

Abstract

The debate on Poland’s accession to the North Atlantic Alliance and defense policy became one of the dominant topics appearing in Polish political discourse after the political changes in 1989. The article particularly highlights the theoretical layer of political thought, and the article aims to analyze the political views of the Polish People’s Party (PSL) on the role and importance of NATO for the security of the Polish state and defense policy. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization was the basic military alliance which was brought to the attention of PSL politicians. The People’s Party was interested in joining the alliance, and after joining, they considered the implementation of NATO’s most important function, i.e., ensuring the security of member states and the defense of their territory and population, to be a priority. The army was to perform defense tasks in relation to the protection of state borders and fulfill allied obligations under NATO membership. For the PSL, the priority in the preferred army model was its professionalization, which was to replace the conservative approach to the conscript army. They opposed the creation of the Territorial Defense Forces, demanding the creation of the National Reserve Forces, which were to be a “selected volunteer resource of reserve soldiers”. The arms industry was of strategic importance for the state’s defense. According to the Polish People’s Party, the Military Health Service was also an important element of the state’s defense and security policy.