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Post‐Socialist Transformation, European Neighbourhood and Civil Society Networks between Poland, Russia and Ukraine: a Case of Multi‐level Contingency

Abstract Does the EU, either through its policies or a more indirect influence on cross‐border cooperation, provide an opportunity structure for promoting civil society networks within Central and Eastern European contexts of organizational and institutional asymmetry? Evidence from Polish–Ukrainian and Polish–Russian (Kaliningrad) civil society cooperation suggests that the EU plays a vital role here in mediating between very different socio‐political relations and providing resources for inter‐state cooperation. However, the EU’s more specific role as a promoter of civil society‐based cross‐border cooperation is less clear. As concrete EU (as well as national) assistance is limited, the onus lies with civil society actors themselves who, by and large, create de‐politicized and pragmatic environments for cooperation. In concluding, the claim is made that the EU is missing valuable opportunities to promote communities of values and shared political agendas. By privileging traditional realist politics of ‘interest’ and neglecting the role of civil society and cross‐border cooperation, the EU, at its peril, is excluding social forces necessary for multi‐level and multi‐faceted regional partnerships.