About the project
The Impact of the Structure of the Political System on the Functioning of State Institutions: Polish and Ukrainian Experiences and Perspectives
The aim of the project is to generate knowledge about the actual, empirically observable impact of Polish constitutional arrangements on the functioning of state institutions. We assume that there is a relationship between these arrangements, adopted as a result of historical processes culminating in the so-called constitutional moment, and the subsequent quality of the functioning of state institutions.
We analyse the impact of various elements of the political system and the relationships between them on the functioning of the state over the long term (thus taking into account variation in the indicators), and on this basis identify the strengths and weaknesses of the Polish constitutional framework. We also examine whether the Polish experience can serve as a basis for designing institutional solutions applicable in a different historical and social context, particularly with regard to the reconstruction of Ukraine.
Our project is based on the assumption that Poland and Ukraine share common interests in shaping the Ukrainian state during the post-war reconstruction period. Strengthening the Ukrainian state contributes to ensuring security in the region and to promoting peaceful coexistence on the European continent. The findings of our research may therefore be taken into account in the country’s post-war institutional reconstruction.
We take into account the historical experience of the Polish state since 1989, particularly following the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of Poland in 1997, as well as that of the Ukrainian state since 1991. We also analyse the historical and social context, which in the case of Poland is characterised by the process of accession to the European Union and the impact of EU membership on the development of the political system and the functioning of state institutions. In the case of Ukraine, the historical and social context encompasses both the process of transformation and the formation of the Ukrainian state’s identity, as well as the experience of Russian aggression, including the full-scale invasion in 2022, and the challenges associated with post-war institutional reconstruction.
The Polish experience makes it possible to analyse the impact of various elements of the political system and the relationships between them on the actual functioning of state institutions. In particular, the period of more than twenty-five years during which the Constitution of the Republic of Poland of 1997 has been in force offers exceptionally rich research opportunities. During this period, Poland has experienced different configurations of constitutional arrangements, including varying compositions of parliament and relations between its two chambers, periods of cohabitation between the government and the president, the activity of the Constitutional Tribunal and other constitutional bodies, as well as developments in several critical areas, including the judiciary and the legislative process.
The project will be carried out until 31 December 2026. Owing to its scope, it requires an interdisciplinary approach. Our research draws on three academic disciplines: sociology (particularly the sociology of law and political sociology), law (particularly constitutional law), and political science and public administration (particularly political systems, the legislative process, state administrative capacity, and evidence-informed public policies).
The results of the project are primarily addressed to the Polish and international academic communities in the fields of sociology, law, and political science and public administration. The project’s findings are also intended for those involved in the design and implementation of Polish public policies in the areas of public administration, foreign policy, and cooperation with the European Union, as well as for political actors in Ukraine responsible for designing the country’s political system during the post-war reconstruction period.
The project includes academic seminars as well as study visits by Ukrainian scholars to Poland and Polish scholars to Ukraine. During these visits, we become acquainted with the functioning of state institutions in the host country and establish contacts with the wider academic community of our partner institutions.
An international conference will be held at the University of Warsaw in 2026. We will present the results of our research and submit them for open discussion among leading scholars from different countries.
University of Warsaw
Faculty of Applied Social Sciences and Resocialisation
Institute of Social Prevention and Resocialisation
Principal Investigator: Dr hab. Agnieszka Dudzińska, ag.dudzinska@uw.edu.pl, +48 502 502 524
The project is financed from the state budget under Agreement No. MNiSW/2025/DAP/24 concluded between the State Treasury, represented by the Minister of Science and Higher Education, and the University of Warsaw, with total funding amounting to PLN 924,000.