Wolontariat na Ukrainie – gwarancja zmian ustrojowych czy wpadanie w stare pułapki?
Volunteering in Ukraine: A Guarantee of Political Changes or Falling into the Old Traps?

Summary/Abstract: The Maidan protests that took place at the end of 2013 and beginning of 2014 were yet another instance of social objection to the government in the history of independent Ukraine. However, they were the first to have such a dramatic course and an unexpected finale. Ukrainians showed a remarkable ability for self-organization and far-reaching determination in demanding major political changes. There may be disagreement about whether change actually took place in the system, whether the society was already strong enough not to return to the previous statehood, and whether these changes are still reversible. This article shows the strengths and weaknesses of Ukrainian volunteering being an important driver of change as a specific social institution and movement that distinguishes the Ukraine of 2015/2016 from the country it was at the times of the previous protests. It discusses the durability of changes that have already been made to the political system, and analyses the ongoing processes of civic engagement from the perspective of the theory of democratization. This paper also tries to define where Ukrainian society stands today on its way to becoming a truly democratic state.

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