About this episode

The episode discusses the tension between national sovereignty and the ideological pressures from left-liberal elites in Europe, focusing on Poland's resistance to these pressures.

This presentation examines the growing tension between the sovereignty of nation-states and the expanding ideological and institutional pressure exerted by dominant left-liberal circles in Europe. It begins with the question of why Poland—particularly during the conservative governments of 2015–2023—became one of the primary targets of political and economic pressure from the central institutions of the European Union. At the heart of this conflict lies a fundamental clash of visions of the state and the law. On one side stands the model of a sovereign state grounded in its constitution, democratic legitimacy within the nation-state, and the Christian roots of European civilization, committed to protecting the family and the welfare of children. On the other side is the project of an increasingly centralized Europe, in which law is used as a tool to advance a harmful ideological agenda—ranging from radical woke doctrines and coercive net-zero policies to the mass relocation of culturally incompatible migrants—while simultaneously serving as an instrument of political pressure on member states. This tension is particularly visible in disputes concerning family law and the…

More episodes of The Institute of World Politics

• Resources, Power, and Nation Building: Critical Minerals and the New Geopolitics of the 21st · June 9, 2026 · 53 min
• Remembered Homelands, Divided Lands: Ottoman Legacies and the Roots of Ethnic Conflict · May 19, 2026 · 27 min
• The Life and Fate of Paweł Z. Woś. Methodology of Research on the Polish War Generation · May 19, 2026 · 26 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Institute of World Politics podcast page.