The Evolution of Poles' Attitudes Towards the War in Ukraine and Its Social Determinants

This chapter analyses changes in Polish attitudes towards the war in Ukraine in the key years of 2014, 2022, and 2024 in an axiological context. Based on survey data and the results of CBOS qualitative research, the evolution of Polish public opinion is presented – from increased solidarity with Ukrainians and identification with their struggle to today’s growing dislike of Ukrainians and waning support for their struggle. An important context for this transformation relates to the deteriorating attitude of Poles towards Ukrainians residing in Poland, which was also taken into account in the analysis. The chapter is part of a broader reflection on the dynamics of social attitudes in crisis situations, providing both an empirical basis and a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanisms of attitude change in the context of international armed conflicts. The quantitative data presented are derived from nationwide surveys conducted using the CAPI or a mixed-mode method (combining CAPI, CATI, and CAWI) on a representative sample of adult Polish residents drawn from the PESEL register, always numbering approximately 1,000 respondents. Qualitative data, on the other hand, came from focus group interviews conducted among eight groups of six to eight respondents in four Polish cities: Warsaw, Wrocław, Rzeszów, and Łowicz.