The "Polish Question" for Ukraine

by Oleh Protsyk

OTTAWA - The recent controversy surrounding the issue of the Polish military cemetery in Lviv served as one more reminder of the fact that the relatively remote events in Ukrainian-Polish relations have not yet become history. The past, as some academics argue, becomes history only when it no longer has an immediate affect on the current societal discourse and no longer politicizes the public.

The complexity of the Ukrainian-Polish past and the relation of this past to the present were the focus of Polish Ambassador to Canada Pawel Dobrowolski's lecture "Do We Let History Die? Ukraine, Poland and Europe in the 21st century," organized by the Chair of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Ottawa on May 16. The scandal with re-opening the cemetery, which took place just the day after the lecture, shed new light on the ambassador's remarks.

While the ambassador's presentation focused in particular on the historical evolution of relations between Ukraine and Poland, it also dealt with contemporary issues. In short, the ambassador's answer to the question posed in the title of his lecture was: we should not let history die. At the same time, we should not let the bitter elements of that history hijack our present either. The painful and controversial elements of the past have to be acknowledged in a reconciliatory way - in a way that would allow both countries to pursue their aspiration of developing a closer partnership in the future.

The conflict over the cemetery will not, of course, alter the positive trend of growing political, social and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Poland during the last decade. The conflict, however, casts some doubts on the overall project of building strong societal foundations of mutual trust between the two nations. This trust is essential both for deepening the existing patterns of inter-country cooperation and for the internal transformation of Ukraine.

Close engagement with Poland on multiple governmental and societal levels is critically important for Ukraine's continuing transition to political democracy and a vibrant civil society. The Ukrainian community has to face it: no other Ukrainian neighbor has as much potential in helping to steer Ukraine to Europe as Poland has. Ukraine is at the crossroads both in terms of political and broader societal development.

Especially in terms of political evolution, as the recent parliamentary elections showed, Ukraine faces different options. The basic choice is between the Russian model of a semi-authoritarian president and relatively weak and insignificant political parties, and the European model of very strong political parties which dominate the political system and the process of formation of the executive. The openness to Polish influences - both political and intellectual - is a way to strengthen the proponents of the European model of a political system in Ukraine.

At his lecture at the University of Ottawa, Ambassador Dobrowolski, for obvious reasons, did not comment much on Ukrainian politics. Yet he talked about the need to strengthen civil society ties, learn lessons from an exceptionally strong and independent Polish mass-media sector, and intensify academic exchange. He also talked about the staunch Polish support of the Ukrainian efforts to eventually gain membership in the European Union.

Ukraine's promising relationship with Poland should be kept in mind by those in Ukraine and the Ukrainian community abroad who feel that the past will be betrayed if any additional concessions regarding such symbolic gestures as monument inscriptions are made. We desperately need Poland's friendship in order to move Ukraine closer to Europe and thus should find a way to accommodate the Polish requests. This accomodationist stand is, of course, partly dictated by our weakness. Ukraine's political and societal institutions are weak and intensifying ties with Poland is one of many ingredients needed to strengthen them. Taking a dismissive or defensive stand on issues like those surrounding the Lviv cemetery may be emotionally appealing but is ultimately counterproductive.

Oleh Protsyk is a post-doctoral fellow at the Chair of Ukrainian Studies, University of Ottawa.

Copyright © The Ukrainian Weekly, June 23, 2002, No. 25, Vol. LXX

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