Uncovering Civic Engagement in the New Democracies of Central and Eastern Europe: Local Responses to Displacement from Ukraine after the Full-Scale Russian Invasionn
Uncovering Civic Engagement in the New Democracies of Central and Eastern Europe: Local Responses to Displacement from Ukraine after the Full-Scale Russian Invasionn

Summary/Abstract: This article examines how local governments and civic actors in Central and Eastern Europe responded to the 2022 displacement crisis, challenging dominant narratives of democratic weakness in the region. Using comparative case studies of Gdańsk (Poland) and Võru (Estonia), it explores how “hidden citizen energies” emerged through bottom-up mobilisation and municipal–civil society cooperation. Adopting a relational and crisis-sensitive perspective on civil society and multi-level migration governance, the analysis reveals the dynamic, “pulsating” nature of civic engagement under crisis conditions. In Gdańsk, pre-existing integration frameworks enabled swift and coordinated humanitarian action, while in Võru, spontaneous community initiatives compensated for institutional gaps. Despite differences in scale and capacity, both cities illustrate how localities can act as resilient governance nodes, turning citizen solidarity into effective response and strengthening democratic resilience amid disruption.

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