Resilient responses to the massive influx of forced migrants: A case study of medium-sized cities in Poland

The full-scale aggression against Ukraine on 24 February 2022 caused an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. In Poland, most forced migrants settled in urban areas, turning cities into unique proving grounds for humanitarian assistance and testing their resilience capabilities. We explore this phenomenon using the case study of three medium-sized cities with particular attention to the roles of and relationships between local actors (local governments, civil society, and local businesses and universities). Our analysis of urban responses is grounded in theories of social resilience and multi-level governance (MLG). We argue that there are similarities in how medium-sized cities responded to the challenges posed by a massive refugee influx. We also contend that their responses were different from those of large cities as a result of their limited experience in receiving migrants, their less diverse and specialised actor base, and the more limited capitals at their disposal. The article is based on primary (30 semi-structured IDIs and participant observation) and secondary data.