Leszek Sykulski – Doctor of Social Sciences in Political Science (specialising in geopolitics and political geography), Lieutenant in the Polish Army Reserve, historian, academic teacher, publicist.
He graduated from Jagiellonian University, the University of Silesia in Katowice, and the National Defence Academy in Warsaw, and completed a reserve officer course at the Higher School of Land Forces in Wrocław.
Following his academic preparation, he worked as an international security analyst in the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland during Lech Kaczyński’s presidency, and was appointed by the president to sit on the WSI Verification Commission.
In addition to his government service, he lectured at several universities, including Jan Długosz University in Częstochowa (2018-2020), Józef Gołuchowski Academy of Applied Sciences in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski (2020-2023), the Higher School of Business and Entrepreneurship in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski (2013-18), the National Defence Academy in Warsaw (2011-2013), and the Polish Diaspora Academy in Częstochowa (2012). In 2015, he taught as a visiting professor at the Institut Universitaire Catholique Saint Jérôme de Douala (Cameroon).
Complementing his academic career, for a full five-year term (2018-2023), he served as a court expert at the Regional Court in Częstochowa in the field of state security and political extremism.
He founded the Polish Geopolitical Society, serving as board president (2008-2009, 2012-2014) and as honorary president since 2014. He also founded and was editor-in-chief of the quarterly ‘Przegląd Geopolityczny’ (2009-2016, volumes 1-15) and has been the founder and editor-in-chief of the geopolityka.net portal since 2011.
Currently, the President of the Polish Geostrategic Society and the President of the Polish Institute for Peace Research (POLPRI) foundation. He is also a member of the International Studies Association (sections: International Security Studies and Russian, Eurasian, and East European Studies) and the Global Association of Risk Professionals.
His main areas of research are: (1) Polish and Russian geopolitical thought, (2) information warfare, (3) international security (with particular emphasis on Russia’s geostrategy and competition between states in the Arctic), and (4) methodology of geopolitics and international security studies, reflecting the breadth of his expertise.
Author of over 60 scientific publications.
Awarded the Pro Patria Medal and the Bronze Cross of Merit.
Contact: leszek.sykulski[at]yahoo.com