A Challenge or an Opportunity?

Preferences and Behaviors of Ukrainian Youth within the fFamework of Cultural Dimensions Theory

Abstract

Countries and regions across the globe exhibit disparities not only in their sensate, material and moral cultures, readily discernible to observers, but also in historically embedded elements such as institutions, values, and collective identity. Components of identity, including language and religion, as well as institutional frameworks encompassing legal systems, organizational structures, and legislative frameworks, are conspicuous to outsiders, whereas values serve as the foundation for cultural discrepancies. For individuals unaware of cultural differences, contact with people from other countries can result not only in satisfaction but also in frustration, bitterness, and, in extreme cases, culture shock. One strategy to mitigate disruptions in intercultural interpersonal communication efficiency involves cultivating the ability to recognize cultural dimensions and practically addressing issues, by reconciling divergent cultural values pertinent to interpersonal relations, communication styles, or formal protocols. The objective of this article is to elucidate cultural variances between Poland and Ukraine and to cultivate competencies in effectively dismantling communication barriers, often stemming from stereotypes and ethnocentrism. This study contributes to the scholarly discourse on multiculturalism and cultural differences, undertaken in literature, with particular relevance amidst the influx of Ukrainian nationals into our country. The research employs desk research and qualitative methods, including targeted interviews on the preferences and behaviors of Ukrainian youth. Qualitative inquiry was conducted, prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine, during the authors’ multiple scholarly and educational visits to Ukraine. These visits were facilitated by a collaborative agreement on scientific research and teaching cooperation, established between the University of Economics in Katowice and Ternopil Volodymyr Hnatiuk National Pedagogical University, endorsed by the Senate Committee for International Cooperation on January 28, 2019. The co-author of this article oversees this collaborative initiative (2018, 2019, January 2020).