Conservative party under Austrian rule against the Ukrainian Galicia, on the eve of World War I (1913–1914)

The text was submitted to the action to be taken by the governing conservative country on the eve of the outbreak of the World War I. The main problem was to reform the electoral law to parliament. Among conservatives prevailed in this case big difference. While Krakow conservatives were in favor of reform and related concessions to the Ukrainians, their East-Galician countrymen have in this case the opposite opinion. The author writes that this issue dominated also the campaign for the national parliament in 1913. The new chamber resumed negotiations on the issue. Finally, just before the outbreak of war reform was adopted. Unfortunately, the relations had already been so strained that the ad­opted draft has failed to appease them. At the end of his discussion the author concludes that the events of the years 1913–1914 were one of the main reasons that led to the outbreak of bloody Polish-Ukrainian war of 1918–1919.

The Face of Solidarity and Reconciliation? Emotions and nonverbal communication in Volodymyr Zelensky’s wartime addresses to the Polish audience

President V.  Zelensky’s international popularity and sympathy resulted from his empathetic image as the nation’s speaker after the Russian aggression in February 2022. The novel application of technology helped him communicate with foreign audiences and receive international military, political, economic, and humanitarian support, strengthening the anti-Russian alliance. Poland was an essential partner in Zelensky’s strategy as Poles hosted millions of Ukrainian war refugees, marking the Polish society as a core target group of his communication. The paper presents the results of automated coding (FaceReader 9, general model, 30 fps) of the Ukrainian President’s facial expressions of emotions in three speeches addressed to the Polish audience after February 2022, comparing them with the results of a study on Zelensky’s 73 international addresses in the first year of the war. The study investigates differences in nonverbal targeting of Poles and other audiences, providing detailed profiles of analyzed speeches. The results suggest that the stage of the conflict primarily regulated his nonverbal communication, and then it was adapted to the targeted audience. (1) Zelensky increased emotional expressiveness in communication with the Poles, signaling all three dominant emotions (sadness, anger, and disgust). (2) The intensity of disgust had a reverse pattern than in the general sample, and it was reduced with time and replaced by more arousing anger. (3) The Ukrainian President significantly stronger displayed fear in his speeches to the Polish audience. The differences in nonverbal dynamics explain a  reduced involvement of Polish society in helping Ukraine, as Zelensky’s initial empathetic image was replaced with a more aggressive style of wartime leadership

Today, problems related to intercultural communication are actively studied by representatives of various sciences. As a result of this study, many concepts related to intercultural communication have been introduced, which have become the subject of research in both scientific and practical fields. Often, in defining intercultural communication, representatives of cultural studies, sociology, psychology and linguistics emphasize their professional approach to this phenomenon and reflect their unique view of it. This article focuses on the theoretical and practical aspects of intercultural communication and cultural exchange within the framework of Polish-Ukrainian relations in the context of current events, in particular Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Polish support for Ukraine has become important and has many aspects, including humanitarian aid, political support, and economic cooperation. This support contributes to strengthening mutual understanding and solidarity between the Polish and Ukrainian peoples, as well as promotes the exchange of culture and traditions. The article presents a study of cultural exchange and interaction between the Ukrainian and Polish communities during the military actions in Ukraine. Focusing on the period after the invasion, the study examines the intense cultural exchange that took place between the two national groups. This exchange included the exchange of art, literary works, musical performances, and other cultural expressions. It reflects the efforts of both nations to maintain friendly relations and promote mutual understanding in a complex geopolitical context. Cultural exchange contributes to the expansion of knowledge, deepening of understanding and perception of another culture. Art, literature, and other cultural expressions allow people to get acquainted with the world and traditions of other nations, which makes it possible to form common values and opens a dialogue between Ukrainians and Poles. This dialogue helps to increase mutual understanding and improve relations between these communities in the face of historical challenges. It also examines various practical aspects of organizing cultural initiatives and further developing interaction between Ukrainian and Polish cultural heritage after the Russian invasion. These aspects include the organization of joint cultural events, cultural exchange, joint projects in the field of education, and so on. The study opens up new promising horizons for understanding cultural interactions in the context of global change and contributes to deepening interaction between national communities.