State policy on the formation and modernisation of Polish territorial structure

Seeking an optimal form of territorial and administrative structures which will correspond with changing social and economic conditions is one of the aspects of the modernisation process taking place in a contemporary state. The subject matter of the article is the analysis of the current Polish government policy regarding the modernisation of the territorial and administrative structure. The issue was examined both on a discursive plane and in respect of the adopted territorial reforms. Three problematic areas were addressed: the modification of the local territorial division units (gminas and powiats); discussion on the division at the regional level (voivodeships); formation of metropolitan units. In this context, the dilemma whether to opt for territorial consolidation or for fragmentation and the issue of metropolitan governance strategy were considered. The establishment of the first metropolitan area – Metropolitan Union ‘Upper Silesian and Zagłębie Metropolis’ – in 2018, pursuant to the parliament act and government regulation, was highlighted as a pioneering and innovative step.