Supportive or Destructive? Intergovernmental Relations During Refugee Crisis in Poland from Local Governments’ Perspective

This chapter examines intergovernmental relations (IGR) in Poland during the first three months of the 2022 refugee crisis, precipitated by the Russian aggression against Ukraine. It explores how the existing IGR processes either facilitated or hindered the effective involvement of lower administrative levels in the crisis management, areas of tension and conflict within IGR, and the extent to which other organizations contributed as service providers or decision-makers within the IGR framework. The study highlights the challenges of coordinating a multilevel response to an unprecedented influx of over 2.5 million refugees, reflecting on the adaptability and effectiveness of IGR processes under crisis conditions.