To browse Academia. The concept of intelligence and security adopted in post Poland has been characterized by redundant content, wide scope and a catch-all approach to state security. However, as time went by, intelligence functions were granted to other institutions and bodies in charge of internal and territorial security - like the police, border guards, financial intelligence units and anti-corruption offices.
Furthermore, the absence of a clearinghouse meant that lots of information acquired from different sources was locked in separate institutions and left practically useless. Explaining this state of affairs is not simple.
These processes have resulted in overlapping competences, institutional frictions and legislative incoherence. In consideration of this overall context, the purpose of this study is threefold: First, to describe the evolution of the Polish intelligence community, starting from the assumption that since the fall of the Communist regime the secret services in Poland have suffered the chronic ailment of politicisation and instrumental treatment by subsequent governing coalitions.
Second, to give a picture of the relevant organisations and structures which form the Polish intelligence community. Finally, to point out the relations to, and the activities of, the two most influential external powers on Polish security, Russia and the United States. Throughout the communist period in Poland security organs were under the influence and supervision of the Soviet Union.
Its role was to coordinate the cooperation between the security authorities. Despite the change in the situation after , the KGB continued to influence the direction of the polish Security Service. One of the most important fields of cooperation was intelligence. The basis for cooperation was the exchange of information and some of the documents obtained, mainly about political and economic issues. An important field of cooperation was also scientific and technical intelligence.
