Diaspora in times of war: understanding patterns of Ukrainian mobilization from afar through a comparative lens

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine mobilized Ukrainian diasporas worldwide in support of their homeland. While the invasion prompted widespread protests and fundraising, the forms of local and transnational engagement undertaken by Ukrainians abroad have varied considerably. Using a comparative approach, this article explains diverse patterns of diasporic mobilization by examining how dynamics of mobilizing structures, host state stance towards diaspora goals and level of host society solidarity shape opportunities for diaspora activism across contexts. Theoretically, the paper argues it is the combination of these contextual factors rather than the factors alone that explain diverging patterns of diaspora mobilization. The key contribution is in proposing a conceptual model explaining patterns of diaspora mobilization based on the nexuses between contextual factors. Empirically, the article examines three national sites reflecting distinct Ukrainian migration trajectories and socio-economic positions: the United States, one of the oldest destinations of Ukrainian emigration; Israel, home to a sizeable Jewish-Ukrainian community shaped by post-1990s migration; and Poland, a site of more recent migration intensified since 2014. The study draws on thematic analysis of 115 interviews and participant observation conducted with long-term migrants from Ukraine and second-generation Ukrainians.