The Casimir Pulaski Foundation is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan think tank based in Warsaw, Poland specializing in foreign policy and security research.
The Pulaski Foundation provides strategic analysis and solutions for government policy makers, the private sector and civil society that give insight into the future and predict upcoming changes. Activities include conducting scientific research; preparing publications and analyses; organizing seminars and conferences; and providing education and support for prospective leaders. The Foundation also hosts The Warsaw Security Forum. The Casimir Pulaski Foundation's team is composed of 40 experts from various fields. The Foundation played an important role in organizing the Warsaw Regional NGOs Congress in 2006. Together with the Council of Europe, the Casimiar Pulaski Foundation brought over 200 decision makers from the biggest non-governmental organizations in eastern Europe and the Middle East to participate in this conference. In October 2012 the Foundation sponsored a conference on "The State of Civil Society in Belarus". This was followed by a second conference in the 14–15 June 2013, "Belarusian Civil Society in 2013" organized jointly with the Civil Society Platform Communication Council of Europe. In attendance were 35 Belarusian NGO activists, human rights defenders, journalists, experts from the electronic media, local activists, ecologists, artists and scientists. In 2013/2014 The Casimir Pulaski Foundation awarded five full-time scholarships for students and Ph.D. candidates to the European Academy of Diplomats. It also partners with the Academic Security Forum, an independent, nonpartisan platform which focused on security and defense issues affecting Central and Eastern Europe. On 22 October 2014 the Foundation held a roundtable in the series Pulaski Security Briefings. The guest speaker was Inspector of Naval WADM. Richard Demchuk, who gave a lecture on current problems and concepts of modernization of the Polish Navy.
Publications
The Foundation publishes the Pulaski Policy Papers, Pulaski Report and Pulaski Viewpoint, which analyze crucial issues for Poland in matters of foreign and domestic policy and economy. The experts of the Foundation cooperate with media on a regular basis commenting on matters connected with international politics. It is also the publisher of the Communication Platform for Non-Governmental Organizations, a web initiative is organized under the auspices of the Council of Europe.
The values of the foundation are exemplified by General Casimir Pulaski. Throughout his career, he was a tireless defender of freedom, justice and democracy, and thus serves as an inspiration for all initiatives undertaken by the Foundation. Each year, the Casimir Pulaski Foundation awards Knight of Freedom Award to an individual who has promoted the values represented by Casimir Pulaski. As both a fighter for Polish independence and the "father of the American cavalry", Casimir Pulaski is considered a hero on two continents. He is often referred to as the "knight of freedom" due to his unflinching commitment to the ideals of freedom, justice and democracy. He combined his love for battle with this love for freedom; and was thus able to render service to armies in two very different parts of the world in pursuit of the same ideal. The Pulaski foundation is one of only two Polish non-governmental organizations which has the honor of being a partner organization to the Council of Europe. The Foundation is also a member of “Zagranica Group”, an association of Polish non-governmental organizations that work abroad in cooperation with foreign partners to mutual benefit.
Recipients
Since its inception, the Knight of Freedom Award has been presented to:
