Democracy Assistance from the Third Wave: Polish Engagement in Belarus and Ukraine

6. Implications for Theory and Practice

153 IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE n This book has taken a detailed look at a particular example of democracy assistance efforts provided by a young democracy, something that has not been studied before. This book makes some contributions to research on democracy assistance , which motivated the questions addressed in this study. However, this book also participates in important debates about democratization and democratic consolidation, the role of external actors in these processes, and regional diffusion of democracy. Findings from the Polish case permit an assessment of the implications of these findings for the fields of comparative politics and international relations, as well as for the practice of democracy assistance. Findings from the Polish Case Without the Solidarity activists and all who contributed to the success of the movement, the remarkable growth of Polish nongovernmental organizations and their involvement in democracy assistance would not have been possible. In almost every Polish organization engaged in democracy assistance, there can be found some trace of the Solidarity tradition. Inspired by the Solidarity spirit, activists of that period and their political heirs found it natural and important for Polish NGOs to form partnerships with civil society groups abroad and to help them in their struggle for democracy. Polish NGOs were the first to take on important social issues during the transformation; they built bridges between the state and public sector; supported many political, social, and economic reforms; and lobbied the government to introduce institutional changes in the third sector. These activities helped Poland move toward democracy and then toward the conImplications for Theory and Practice 6 153 154 IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE solidation of democracy, and they inspired Polish NGOs to share this experience beyond Poland’s borders and to lobby the government to establish an aid program. Whereas the Polish government’s involvement in aid provision stems partly from Poland’s membership in international organizations, the decision to provide aid for democratizing purposes originated domestically, not only from the desire to “pay it forward” after receiving assistance in its own democratic transition. The Polish government also considers democracy assistance to Poland’s neighbors important because of the belief that democracy is crucial for sustainable economic development and for political and strategic reasons. Polish elites perceive democratization of neighboring states to be a means of safeguarding Polish international and political interests because of the belief that Poland cannot be truly secure without democratic neighbors. Moreover, by helping other countries in the postcommunist space, the Polish government demonstrates that taking the lead in making the eastern border safe strengthens Poland’s position in the European Union. A significant finding of this work is that the Polish government’s approach to democracy assistance in Belarus and Ukraine is not exclusively political or developmental. Polish programs have features of both approaches and thus are adapted to the different situations in each recipient country. Support for civil society remains a high priority in Polish democracy assistance to both countries, and it has been demonstrated that with Poland’s accession to the European Union, the government and NGOs of Poland have been changing the EU’s outlook on democracy assistance to Belarus and Ukraine. The political situations in democratizing Ukraine and authoritarian Belarus are reflected in the approaches and strategies used in reaching out to civil society groups. In the case of Belarus, aid activities focus on promoting independent culture and the Belarusian language, as well as on initiatives aimed at activating civil society. Cross-border projects have established a radio station, a television channel, and websites in order to provide access to credible information about Belarusian history, literature, and the social and political situation in Belarus, as well as about international events. Since Alexander Lukashenko became president and Belarus moved toward authoritarianism, projects in Belarus have changed from those directly fostering democracy to projects working for democratic change in an indirect way. As the result of repression against Belarusian nongovernmental organizations , Polish NGOs’ cross-border projects in Belarus are implemented with individuals—young people, teachers, and parents in local communi- 155 IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND PRACTICE ties—as well as with informal groups working underground. Many programs targeted at these groups aim to educate and activate citizens to be more socially responsible for their local community, region, and country. Projects in Ukraine show more variety than those in Belarus. The Polish government-funded programs focus on the state’s capacity to enforce decisions associated...