Solidarity, Social Responsibility and Sovereignty: The Civic Values Behind Transnational Business in Wartime Ukraine

This study examines how entrepreneurs and businesses, operating in a civic ecosystem between Poland and Ukraine following the 2022 full-scale invasion by Russia, have been mobilised by solidarity, commitment to social responsibility, and support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and European integration. It reveals that entrepreneurs largely perceive Ukraine’s trajectory as an irreversible shift towards being a liberal democratic state with a free market economy. Initially mobilised through humanitarian assistance, they progressively expanded their engagement and business models, reflecting shifts in structural, ideational and geopolitical alignments. By examining business practices in the civic sphere, this study illuminates the realignment of structures within civil society and how businesses are helping to drive Ukraine’s struggle for recognition, underscoring the mobilising role of the European idea in supporting Ukraine’s quest for sovereignty.