Українська держава та закордонне українство в Польщі: особливості взаємодії

Abstract

З’ясовано, що значну роль в утвердженні України як впливового актора міжнародної взаємодії відіграє сучасне закордонне українство, що є важливим демографічним, інтелектуальним, соціокультурним та інформаційним ресурсом країни. Виявлено найефективніші форми взаємодії України та закордонного українства та способи збереження етнонаціональної ідентичності української спільноти в Польщі. Визначено причини низького рівня політичної активності польського українства. It is found that contemporary Ukrainians living abroad play a significant role in strengthening Ukraine as an influential actor of international interaction, with this being an important demographic, intellectual, sociocultural and informational resource of the country. The relevance of the topic is proved from several positions, including the following: the most active and progressive part of Ukrainians have found themselves abroad; political forces of modern Ukraine do not only perceive the countrymen living abroad as a domestic electoral sector, but also as a powerful factor in the implementation of foreign policy goals; and the format of the government’s attitude toward foreign countrymen is a kind of indicator of the quality of state building. The publication is aimed at identifying the most effective forms of interaction between Ukraine and the Ukrainians living abroad. Support and development of Ukrainian educational establishments, provision of state scholarships for young people to study at universities in Ukraine, establishment of Ukrainian cultural centers, support of Ukrainian libraries and media, improvement of legal protection of migrant workers, etc are recognized as important factors of preserving the ethno national identity of the Ukrainian community in Poland. The conclusion is made as to the insufficient level of activity of modern Ukrainian community living in Poland in the approval of the international positions of Ukraine, the popularization of everything which is «Ukrainian», the support of the nation development process, etc. Meanwhile, living abroad Ukrainians are in dire need of support from the «parent» state, not only in the ideological sense but also financially. The low level of political involvement of Polish Ukrainians is explained by several reasons: the dispersed nature of the Ukrainian population in Poland, heterogeneity of Ukrainians living in Poland, the established negative stereotype of the Ukrainian people which exists in the prevailing consciousness of Poles, and too little support of the Ukrainian diaspora on the part of Ukraine. The slow pace of democratization of the national political system, the poor state of the economic sphere as well as the confidence of a significant part of Ukrainians living abroad in «anti-national» orientation of some parties and party leaders of Ukraine are defined as the main causes that do not contribute to the strengthening of the interaction between Ukraine and the diaspora.