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Jan Bazyli Klakla in an interview for mBank on migration
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Jan Bazyli Klakla
Director of Migration, Social Policy, and Development Cooperation
Dr Jan Bazyli Klakla is Director of Migration, Social Policy, and Development Cooperation at CASE – Center for Social and Economic Research. He oversees a broad portfolio of projects in these areas, including work on socio-legal studies and on higher education and science policy. Dr. Klakla has been involved in and has led numerous national and European research projects, including those funded by Horizon Europe, Norway Grants, and Polish National Science Center. His work also includes providing consulting and expert services to key European institutions such as the Committee of the Regions, the European Economic and Social Committee, and CEDEFOP (European Centre for the Development of Vocational Training). He has served as an expert in the “Safe Krakow - Security Strategy for Krakow” program. Dr. Klakla is the editor of Law and Culture. Reconceptualization and Case Studies (Springer Nature, 2021) and the author of Law and Acculturation. Conceptualisation and Empirical Case Study: Slavic Migrants in Poland (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024) and Studying in Times of Crisis. Acculturation and Adaptation of Ukrainian Students at Kraków Higher Education Institutions amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic and Russia's Aggression against Ukraine (Brill, 2025). In recognition of his scholarly contributions, he was awarded first prize in the competition of the Association of the Philosophy of Law and Social Philosophy (IVR) – Polish Section for the best doctoral dissertation in the theory and philosophy of law. His research interests span migration, sociology of law, educational research, public policy analysis, customary law, and the methodology of social sciences.
Media from this author:
- Jan Bazyli Klakla on research about migrants in Tygodnik Powszechny
- Jan Bazyli Klakla on the draft amendment to the Citizenship Act for Rzeczpospolita
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Fear or Opportunity? Rethinking Poland’s Migration Strategy in Rzeczpospolita
On October 15, the government adopted a new migration strategy, which—according to Prime Minister Donald Tusk—is intended to ensure the "security of Poland." An article by Agnieszka Kulesa and Jan Bazyli Klakla, published in Rzeczpospolita, highlights that this document focuses on viewing migration as a threat rather than recognizing its potential benefits. "The idea of full control over migration is an illusion," notes Agnieszka Kulesa, emphasizing that people will always move in search of a better life. Experts argue that a fear-based approach may harm both the economy and social cohesion. Migrants play a crucial role in the labor market, and their presence is becoming increasingly important as Polish society ages. The authors warn that the strategy may discourage people willing to work and integrate while failing to address issues related to irregular migration. Instead of fostering an atmosphere of distrust, Poland should focus on real integration mechanisms that respond to the country's economic and demographic needs.
We have a demographic problem today. In this situation, migration is a pragmatic safeguard. (…) Migration alone will not “fix” demographics. First, the scale – migrants rarely exceed 20% of the population. Second, migrants also age and, over time, have a fertility rate similar to that of the host country. Thirdly, fertility rates are also falling in the countries of origin. Therefore, a sensible strategy is to combine well-designed migration (especially where automation has natural barriers) with investments in productivity, health, and professional activity, as well as automation where it actually works. In short: not “migration instead of automation,” but “migration alongside automation” – and a lot of homework on our part.
Director of Migration, Social Policy and Development Cooperation