History

The Polish Institute of International Affairs (PISM) was set up under an act of Parliament dated December 20, 1996. The organisation of the Institute commenced in 1999 and the first employees joined PISM in 2000.

PISM replaced an entity bearing the same name which had existed between 1947 and 1993 as a research institute operating under the auspices of  the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA). It was closed by Krzysztof Skubiszewski, the then minister. The PISM library and the employees were taken over by the MFA while PISM publications were handed to the Polish Foundation of International Affairs.

In 2002 custody of the library returned to PISM.

Ryszard Stemplowski was the first director of PISM redivivus between September 20, 1999 to September 19, 2004. Jacek Foks acted as PISM director between September 20, 2004 and May 31, 2005. Roman Kuźniar was director of the Institute since June 1, 2005 by February 7, 2007.