During September and October this year, the Polish border exceeded 98,500 Ukrainians aged 18–22 – an average of 1,600 per day. This is the consequence of the abolition of the ban on young men leaving the country during the war.
The authorities explain that the aim is to enable young Ukrainians to survey or work abroad, which could benefit the full society through the subsequent transfer of cognition or capital. It is an authoritative interpretation, but it is impossible to miss the second bottom of this decision. Kiev consciously builds in Poland the origin of a new, many diaspora – political, economical and cultural background of Ukraine in the heart of the European Union.
History knows many specified cases. Israel has been basing its strength on diaspora for decades. Ireland treats migrants not as lost citizens but as the outer wing of the nation. Turkey went on to make an office to mobilise the Turks in Germany and the Netherlands.
Ukraine wants to follow a akin path. Especially since her situation is exceptional: a country at war, with a immense outflow of population, needs fresh channels of influence, besides outside its borders. Poland, as the largest neighbour and the main war support centre, becomes a natural site for the construction of this area.
Young, mobile, frequently multilingual. They establish their own and take over Polish companies, work in Polish institutions, enter into the structures of NGOs. That's where the money flows, that's where the Ukrainian media comes in, that's where the various facilities grow. They become part of the Polish public space.
Since this process is gaining momentum, clear rules of play are needed:
– who funds Ukrainian NGOs in Poland,
– what the registry of cross-border organisations looks like,
– the rights and obligations of Ukrainian citizens who are long-term,
– how to defend the communicative balance in the sphere of memory and culture.
If we don't, we won't announcement the minute the host function turns into a guest in our own home. It would be naive to pretend it's a spontaneous and apolitical process. The Ukrainian state understands perfectly that diaspora is simply a soft force – safe, inexpensive and long-term. The influence is measured not only by territory, but besides by presence. Zelenski, allowing young men to leave, did not quit on them – he sent them on a mission. A peaceful, cultural, economical mission – but besides political. This is creating a global Ukraine – as Zelenski himself says. So a community covering not only the people of the country, but besides millions abroad with the task of being "ambassadors of Ukrainian affairs".
Leszek Miller
photo of wikipedia
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