Public Diplomacy Activities of the Ukrainian World Congress Aimed at Improving the Image of Ukraine in the World (1991–2024)

  • Post category:Issue XXV

Nazar Martyniuk
Research Fellow at the Professor Liubomyr Vynar Institute for the Ukrainian Diaspora Studies, postgraduate student at the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations and National Security of the National University of Ostroh Academy

DOI:

Abstract. The article examines the main directions of public diplomacy of the main coordination body of Ukrainian diaspora communities the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) based on the 2021–25 Public Diplomacy Strategy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. For a better understanding of the topic, the main characteristics of diaspora diplomacy as a phenomenon are outlined. The author emphasises that public diplomacy can be carried out in cooperation with or without the diaspora’s state of origin. The article highlights the shortcomings of Ukraine’s cooperation with Ukrainians abroad, the main of which is the lack of a clear strategy for cooperation with Ukrainians worldwide in Ukrainian legislation. It is noted that the state is only beginning to recognise the potential of Ukrainians abroad as ‘ambassadors’ of Ukraine in the world in the context of the fullscale invasion.
The article elaborates on the UWC’s role as an advocate and promoter of Ukraine in the world. The author points out the large-scale assistance provided by the organisation to support the state of its origin. Based on a wide range of sources, including materials from UWC congresses, periodicals and information from official media resources, the author suggests tracing the dimensions of UWC public diplomacy, describing the activities of its structural units, as well as the experience of certain member organisations of the UWC network. It is pointed out that an important area of the UWC’s work is spreading the historical truth about the Holodomor of 1932–1933 and its recognition by foreign countries as genocide of the Ukrainian people.
The article highlights the main forms and methods of UWC public diplomacy, which include disseminating information about Ukraine in the world, countering propaganda, and advocating Ukrainian interests in foreign governments and international organisations. The author concludes that different types of public diplomacy complement each other and comprehensively fulfil the UWC’s priority tasks of promoting Ukraine in the world.
Keywords: diaspora, Ukrainians abroad, Ukrainian World Congress (UWC), public diplomacy, image, disinformation, culture, sports, Ukrainian communities.

Download Article (ukr)

References:

  1. Atamanenko, A. and Matviichuk, N. (2021) ‘Public Diplomacy of Foreign Ukrainians: A Display of Diaspora Diplomacy’, in Matiash, I. (ed.) Public Diplomacy. Kyiv; Ostroh: Horobets, pp. 80–94.
  2. Ukrainian World Congress (2023) XII Svitovyi Kongres Ukraintsiv. Zvity 2018–2023 [12th Ukrainian World Congress. 2018–2023 Reports]. Toronto: Ukrainian World Congress.
  3. ‘SKU vymusheno rozirvav ofitsiini zviazky z ukraintsiamy v Rosii’ (2021) Ukrinform, 14 July. Available at: https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-diaspora/3280681-sku-vimuseno-rozirvav-oficijni-zvazki-z-ukraincami-v-rosii.html
  4. Tsipyvnyk, D. (1994) ‘Nynishnii  Svitovyi Kongres Ukraintsiv’, Ukrainian World Congress, April, p. 1.
  5. Sokolyk, Y. (1995) ‘Novi obstavyny — novi zavdannia’, Ukrainian World Congress, March, pp. 1–2.
  6. Lazebnyk, S. (2023) Z prozhytoho… z vidvertistiu (vidchaidushne zazikhannia na memuary) [From What I’ve Lived… With Frankness (A Bold Attempt at Memoirs)]. Kyiv: GDIP.
  7. ‘UWC’s Unite with Ukraine Launches Santa’s Birds Campaign’ (2023) Ukrainian World Congress, 8 December. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/sku-unite-with-ukraine-rozpochav-zbir-na-ptakhiv-santy
  8. ‘Ukraina pratsiuie nad novoiu stratehiieiu partnerstva zi svitovym ukrainstvom’ (2024) Ukrinform, 16 April. Available at: https://www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-diaspora/3852883-ukraina-pracue-nad-novou-strategieu-partnerstva-zi-svitovim-ukrainstvom-posol.html
  9. Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2021) Stratehiia publichnoi dyplomatii Ministerstva zakordonnykh sprav Ukrainy na 2021–2025 roky. Available at: https://mfa.gov.ua/storage/app/sites/1/%D0%A1%D1%82%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%B3%D1%96%D1%97/public-diplomacy-strategy.pdf
  10. Vynar, L. and Atamanenko, A. (eds.) (2011) Materialy do istorii Svitovoi Naukovoi Rady pry Svitovomu Kongresi Ukraintsiv [Materials for the History of the World Scientific Council at the Ukrainian World Congress]. New York; Toronto; Ostroh: World Scientific Council of the Ukrainian World Congress, Ukrainian Historical Society, Institute for Ukrainian Diaspora Studies of the National University of Ostroh Academy.
  11. Ukrainian World Congress (2018) XI Svitovyi Kongres Ukraintsiv [11th Ukrainian World Congress]. Kyiv.
  12. Ukrainian World Congress (2016) Zbirnyk zvitiv Richnykh zahalnykh zboriv Svitovoho Kongresu Ukraintsiv [Collection of reports of the Annual General Meeting of the Ukrainian World Congress]. Kyiv.
  13. Ukrainian World Congress (2021) Richnyi zvit Svitovoho Kongresu Ukraintsiv — 2021 [Annual Report of the Ukrainian World Congress — 2021]. Toronto; Kyiv; Brussels; New York.
  14. ‘UWC Joins Halifax International Security Forum’ (2023) Ukrainian World Congress, 21 November. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/sku-doluchyvsia-do-halifax-international-security-forum
  15. ‘UWC Partners with Kyiv-Mohyla Academy for Webinar Series on International Law and War’ (2024) Ukrainian World Congress, 27 March. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/vebinary-z-mizhnarodnoho-prava-sku-doluchyvsia-do-proiektu-mohylianky
  16. Sokolyk, O. (1998) ‘Trahediia 1932–1933’, Ukrainian World Congress, 12, p. 6.
  17. ‘Memorandum Prezydentovi, Uriadovi ta Verkhovnii Radi Ukrainy’ (2000) Ukrainian World Congress, 2(5), pp. 2, 4–5.
  18. ‘Ukrainians Worldwide Commemorate 90th Anniversary of Holodomor’ (2023) Ukrainian World Congress, 27 November. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/ukrayinci-vsoho-svitu-vshanuvaly-rokovyny-holodomoru
  19. Martyniuk, N. (2023) ‘Kulturna dyplomatiia Svitivoho Kongresu Ukraintsiv yak chynnyk populiaryzatsii Ukrainy v sviti (2014–2022)’ [Cultural Diplomacy of the Ukrainian World Congress as a Factor of Promoting of Ukraine in the World (2014–2022)], Scientific Notes of Ostroh Academy National University, ‘Historical sciences’ series, 34, pp. 152–160.
  20. ‘Ukraintsi Suchavy na zakhodi ‘Vidkryi dlia sebe Pivnichnyi Skhid’’ (2022) The Union of Ukrainians in Romania, 1 October. Available at: http://surl.li/ssfzt
  21. ‘Ukrainian Cuisine Creates Sensation on Egyptian TV, Sparking Major Buzz’ (2024) Ukrainian World Congress, 3 April. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/ukrayinska-kuhnia-na-telebachenni-yehyptu-yak-hromada-sprychynyla-furor
  22. Ukrainian World Congress (2003) VIII Kongres SKU. Zvity 1998–2003 [8th Ukrainian World Congress. 1998–2023 Reports]. Kyiv.
  23. ‘Attack on UWC: Hackers Intensify Activity Ahead of NATO Summit’ (2023) Ukrainian World Congress, 6 July. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/ataka-na-sku-hakery-aktyvizuvalys-pered-samitom-nato
  24. ‘Narady Prezydii Sekretariiatu SKU’ (1996) Ukrainian World Congress, pp. 6–8.
  25. Ukrainian World Congress (1998) Shostyi Svitovyi Kongres Ukraintsiv 1993. Materialy. 2–7 lystopada 1993 roku [Sixth Ukrainian World Congress 1993. Proceedings. 2–7 November 1993]. Toronto; New York; London: Ukrainian World Congress.
  26. ‘UWC in 2023: Year in Review’ (2023) Ukrainian World Congress, 29 December. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/sku-v-2023-pryhaduyemo-rik-shcho-mynaye
  27. ‘Victorious Ukrainian Protest: Portugal Blocks Russian Military from Competitions’ (2024) Ukrainian World Congress, 1 February. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/uspishnyi-protest-ukrayinciv-portuhaliia-pohodylas-ne-dopuskaty-viiskovykh-rosii-do-zmahan
  28. ‘UWC President Promoted Investment Potential of Ukraine in the Framework of the World Economic Forum in Davos’ (2018) Ukrainian World Congress, 31 January. Available at: https://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/ua/prezydent-sku-prosuvav-investyczijnyj-potenczial-ukrayiny-v-ramkah-vsesvitnogo-ekonomichnogo-forumu-v-davosi