Governance agility in reception of war refugees from Ukraine: The case of Wrocław, Poland

Abstract

The unprecedented influx of migrants triggered by Russia's invasion of Ukraine posed a major challenge for neighbouring countries. For the local authorities of the cities where the migrants arrived, managing the reception of the refugees became a key issue. This article discusses a study on the reception of refugees during the first period of the war in Ukraine in Wrocław, a city that became one of the main Polish hubs of war‐triggered migration. Analysing specific examples of the organisation of activities concerning the aid given to newcomers from Ukraine, we indicate the actors involved in these measures, the range of resources mobilised, the way in which tasks were divided, and the relations between the cooperating stakeholders. The study highlights the key role of agility in managing the issue of reception. However, it is not the quality of the existing system, but the result of the need to develop ad hoc solutions to deal with potential crises. Even so, the flexibility of action, the fluidity of task distribution and the ‘community of the higher purpose’ have enabled effective measures to build the resilience of cities to the threat.