Ukraińskie i łemkowskie struktury organizacyjne w Polsce w latach 1956-2012

Abstract

W artykule omówiono początki powojennej działalności organizacyjnej mniejszości ukraińskiej i łemkowskiej w Polsce oraz jej zmiany jakościowe, ilościowe i przestrzenne w kolejnych dekadach, ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem stanu aktualnego. Przedstawiono zależności między zmianami sytuacji politycznej a przekształceniami ukraińskich i łemkowskich struktur organizacyjnych. Głównym celem było przedstawienie uwarunkowań współczesnego pluralizmu organizacyjnego oraz opinii liderów wybranych organizacji.

Since the middle of the 20th century, the fundamental factors which shaped Ukrainian and Lemko organizational structures in Poland, were the attitude of the state authorities to Ukrainians and Lemkos and political-legal system of the state. In People's Republic of Poland period, because of the strict limitation and control of all activities of political, social and cultural citizens, aversion of the authorities to the Ukrainians, non-recognition separateness of Lemkos and aspiration to assimilate all non- -Polish community, the organizational activity was limited to a minimum and focused on the implementation of objectives to the national minorities by the ruling bodies. Through the whole People's Republic of Poland period there worked the only one Ukrainian organization which was totally controlled by the authorities, but it wasn’t agreed to initiate Lemko organization. After the changes of regime in the early 90s, political and legal changes and different approach to non-Polish citizens of state authorities, it become a distinct activation and strong pluralization of the organizational structures. The number did not always go hand in hand with the quality and persistence, but admittedly after the year 1990, there has taken place rapid development of an independent Ukrainian and Lemko national, political, social, cultural, artistic and editorial activity. Sometimes it causes disputes and controversy, both within minority communities and in relations with Polish majority, but at the same time, despite of the permanent financial problems and frequent lack of understanding among the officials, it is a sign of the effective committing to the maintain of the identity and distinctiveness of groups by the activists. The spatial structures of Ukrainian organizations largely reflect contemporary territorial spread of Ukrainians, whereas Lemko organizations, despite of living most of Lemkos in Lower Silesia, are the most active in Lemko Region which was inhabited by them till displacement in the middle of 20th century.