Urban Paradiplomacy in Crisis Conditions after 2022: The Case of Lublin

Abstract

This article examines the role of paradiplomacy in times of crisis, using the case of the city of Lublin’s support for Ukraine following the outbreak of Russia’s full-scale war in 2022. The study focuses on the phenomenon of de facto acquisition of international agency by territorial entities that lack formal status as subjects of international law, within the broader context of the transformation of the international political order, the humanitarian crisis triggered by the escalation of hostilities, and the dynamics of hybrid conflicts. The aim of the research is to identify the political and organizational conditions under which cities and regions are able to act as active participants in international relations, complementing the traditional diplomatic channels of nation-states. The example of Lublin, which, in the crisis circumstances brought about by the 2022 war in Ukraine, succeeded in mobilizing an extensive network of international partnerships, that demonstrates how local actors can rapidly adapt to emerging challenges and assume the role of conduits for foreign policy initiatives. The study analyses how the existence of strategic documents and programmes of international cooperation, active engagement in cross-border networks, accumulated experience in implementing joint projects, and a positive international reputation created the prerequisites for the swift launch of large-scale humanitarian, cultural, and infrastructural initiatives in support of Ukraine. Particular attention is paid to the factors that shaped the effectiveness of these actions: the political will of local leadership, robust inter-regional linkages, institutional flexibility, a high level of trust and coordination between governmental bodies and non-governmental organisations, which acted in a highly coordinated and effective manner from the very first hours of the war, and the capacity to embed local responses within a broader international political agenda. The article demonstrates that, even in the absence of formal international-legal competences, territorial units can shape the agenda at the interstate level, influence the allocation of resources, and act as channels of political communication between states and international organisations. Special emphasis is placed on the interplay between formal mechanisms of inter-municipal cooperation and informal networks built on trust, solidarity, and shared identity, which can significantly accelerate decision-making and resource mobilisation. Methodologically, the research is grounded in qualitative content analysis of official documents, comparative analysis of cities’ international activities, and the case study method, enabling the identification of universal patterns that can be adapted by other territorial units in similar circumstances. The article concludes that, under contemporary crisis conditions, paradiplomacy can serve as an effective instrument for strengthening the resilience of the international order, and that successful practices of local actors merit integration into broader political strategies for responding to hybrid challenges.