Abstract:
This thesis examines the emergence of Islamist terrorism in Poland with a
special emphasis on the role of Schengen within this process. The Schengen
area is one of the most ambitious and successful integration examples in the
world today. The free movement of people, goods and services has been
reached between participating member states. The dissolution of internal borders
within the Schengen area has been heralded by some analysts as a significant
internal security threat even though external borders for the area are
continuously fortified. This analysis examines Islamist terrorism both in the
internal, home grown and external attack dimension within this integration
structure. The case of Poland is discussed with emphasis placed on the
emergence of an Islamist terrorist threat within this nation. Poland’s Muslim
community, migration trends and preparation for Schengen accession are
scrutinized. This country has not experienced a terrorist attack in the past
however this analysis shows that such a possibility is not so impossible.
Interviews with a Polish border guard commander as well as a Frontex
spokesperson have been completed within the framework of this analysis in
order to yield a greater perspective on the issues discussed. This analysis
focuses on finding the role Schengen plays or will play in the proliferation of
Islamist terrorism in Poland.
