POST-WAR SECURITY SYSTEM AND THE PROBLEM OF BORDERS OF THE SECOND RZECZPOSPOLITA

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to analyze the formation and evolution of the post-war securitysystem in Europe after the First World War and to find out how international treaties, diplomatic decisions and geopolitical factors influenced the establishment, change and problematic nature of the state borders of the Second Rzeczpospolita in 1918–1939. The methodological basis is a complex of general scientific andspecial-historical methods that ensure an objective and comprehensive study of the problem. The historical-ge- netic method was used to trace the formation of the security system and borders of Poland; the historical-com- parative method was used to compare international positions and treaties; the historical-systemic method wasused to analyze the post-war security architecture as a holistic phenomenon. The method of critical analysis ofsources made it possible to process official documents, diplomatic materials and publications of the interwarperiod. Chronological and problem-thematic approaches provided a logical structure of the study and the isolation of key aspects of the topic. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the comprehensive consideration of the problem of the formation of the borders of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth in the context of the post-war security system of Europe. The study combines the analysis of international legal acts, diplo-matic decisions and geopolitical factors that influenced the territorial configuration of Poland in 1918–1939.The focus is not only on political and legal aspects, but also on their relationship with the security strategies of major powers and regional actors, which allows for a new interpretation of the reasons for the instability of Polish borders in the interwar period. Conclusions. The post-war security system, formed after the First World War on the basis of the Versailles-Washington Treaties, was of decisive importance for the formation of the borders of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. It was based on a combination of international legal acts, diplomatic decisions of great powers and geopolitical realities of Eastern Europe. The Polish state, restored after a long period of divisions, became one of the key elements of the new security architecture of the region. The problem of the borders of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth turned out to be complex and controversial: their establishment was accompanied by conflicts with neighboring states, diplomatic negotiations and international arbitrations. Western borders were mostly determined by decisions of great powers, while in the east they were formed in conditions of wars and instability. The international security systemturned out to be insufficiently effective in guaranteeing the stability of these borders, which led to tension in interstate relations and created the prerequisites for future conflicts.