Civil society and democracy: lessons from Poland and prospects for Ukraine

Abstract

The article is devoted to the analysis of the specific features of civil society development in Poland and Ukraine in the context of democratic transformations. A comparative-historical and institutional approach is applied, which made it possible to identify essential differences in the models of civil society formation in the two countries. It was found that in Poland, civil society developed evolutionarily: starting with the mass movement Solidarity and the influence of the Catholic Church in the 1980s, it gradually became institutionalized and turned into an important element of the democratic system. Due to participation in European programs and close cooperation with state institutions, Polish non-governmental organizations became an effective mechanism for implementing democratic standards and ensuring the country’s integration into the European Union. In Ukraine, the development of civil society followed a predominantly crisis-driven path. Key milestones include the Orange Revolution of 2004, the Revolution of Dignity of 2013–2014, and the wave of volunteer initiatives after the start of Russian aggression in 2014 and especially in 2022. Ukrainian civil society demonstrated strong mobilization capacity, self-organization, and solidarity; however, its weaknesses remain fragmentation, lack of resources, and excessive dependence on external donors. The comparative analysis made it possible to distinguish two models of democratization: the Polish model—evolutionary, based on institutionalization and cooperation with the state; and the Ukrainian model—reactive, activated during moments of crisis. For Ukraine, useful lessons from the Polish experience include the transition from situational mobilization to institutional stability, strengthening partnerships between government and civic organizations, as well as developing civic education and political culture. It is concluded that Ukrainian civil society has significant democratizing potential, but to realize it, it is necessary to strengthen the institutional foundation and integrate civic initiatives into the process of European integration.