The counterintelligence shield in Poland. Definitional issues in the context of the tasks and powers of authorities

The analysis presented in the paper pursues two primary research objectives. The first is to establish an understanding of the meaning of the term ‘counterintelligence shield’ in Poland by demonstrating the differences and similarities associated with its use in the fields of security sciences, sociological sciences, economic sciences and legal sciences. The second is to assess the current legal state of affairs in Poland, in particular the tasks and powers of authorities, in order to resolve whether it corresponds to current threats of an intelligence nature to the most important persons in the state, and above all whether it allows for effective counteraction to these threats. Additionally the author puts forward legislative postulates to minimise the imperfections of the system identified during the analysis.