Political Rusynism: Historical Retrospective of Its Origin and Geopolitical Transformation

Mykhailo Kharyshyn

Political Rusynism: Historical Retrospective of Its Origin and Geopolitical Transformation

Mykhailo Kharyshyn

Abstract

With the collapse of the Soviet Union, and especially with the start of the Russian aggression against the Ukrainian state, the issue of “political Rusynism” as well as Rusynism in general, has become today an effective instrument of blackmailing and destruction on the part of Russia for a wide range of countries of central and eastern Europe. According to the author of the article, these are first and foremost Ukraine, Slovakia, Poland and Romania, the Czech Republic, Moldova and the Balkan states, which are home to a large Ukrainian- Rusyn community. In view of the geopolitical tasks which the leading political actors set themselves, the center of such influence, according to the author, can shift, although Ukraine always remains among the key goals. The issue of addressing contemporary challenges and threats, which include political Rusynism etc. – call for a closer study of this problem. It aims to highlight briefly the main stages of the establishment and development of political Rusynism, show some practical steps of Rusynism ideologists guided by special services of neighbouring states to destabilize the situation in Ukraine. The article analyzes the origins of political Rusynism, the basic ideological principles including the modern form of “neorusynism”. The author will demonstrate historical connection between the Russian usage of rusynism and current situation in the region. According to the author, a thorough understanding of the political Rusynism’s nature will allow different interested institutions of Ukraine including government bodies to effectively neutralize and prevent, including in the frame of multi-format international platforms, the attempts of certain neigbouring states, first of all Russia, to destabilize the situation in Ukraine by using this phenomenon as one of the effective tools of hybrid warfare

Keywords

Rusniysm, political Rusynism, “ruskiy mir”, Subcarpathian Rus, Carpathian Ukraine, Transcarpathia, national identity

References

1. Zan, M. (2020). Political representation the ruthenian ethnic identity in Transcarpathia in the Ukrainian scientific discourse. Politycus, 1, 82-89.

2. Rusyns. Entry into Hungary. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://znaimo.com.ua/%D0%A0%D1%83%D1%81%D0%B8%D0 %BD%D0%B8.

3. Veryha, V. (1996). Essays on the history of Ukraine (late XVIII – early XIX centuries.). Lviv.

4. Kubiyovych, V. (Ed.). (1957). Izbornik. Encyclopedia of Ukrainian Studies. Vocabulary part (EU-II). Vol. 2. Paris, New York.

5. Stebliy, F. (2012). Russian Soviets in Galicia. In V.A. Smoliy (Ed.), Encyclopedia of the History of Ukraine: in 10 volumes. Vol. 9. Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

6. Myshanych, O.V. (Ed.). (1984). In the Verkhovyna. Collection of works by writers of pre-Soviet Transcarpathia. Uzhhorod: Karpaty.

7. Vanat, I. (1979). Essays on the recent history of Ukrainians in Eastern Slovakia. Vol. 1 (1918–1938). Prešov: Slovak Pedagogical Publishing House in Bratislava.

8. Kuras, I.F. (Ed.). (2003). Political history of Ukraine. Twentieth century: In 6 volumes. Vol. 5. Kyiv: Heneza.

9. Voloshyn, A. (1923). Memories. (Book “Rusyn”. No. 10). Uzhhorod.

10. Vehesh, M. (1996). Socio-political relations between Eastern Galicia and Transcarpathia in 1918-1919. Uzhhorod.

11. Braschaiko, M. (1939). Speech at the Sejm of Carpathian Ukraine (March 15, 1939). Retrieved from http://www.hai-nyzhnyk. in.ua/doc2/1939(03)15.seim_karp.ukr.php

12. Excerpt from the report of J. Stalin at the XVIII Congress of the CPSU (b) on the Carpathian Ukraine. (1939, March). Retrieved from http://1939.in.ua/chronicle/vytjah-iz-dopovidi-j-stalina-na-xviii-zjizdi-vkp-b-pro-karpatsku-ukrajinu.

13. Dovhey, V. (2006). From the Beskids to Katyn. A look behind the scenes. Lviv: LvCSTEI.

14. To the 80th anniversary of the proclamation of independence of Carpathian Ukraine. Retrieved from https://uinp.gov.ua/ informaciyni-materialy/bibliotekaryam/do-80-richchya-progoloshennya-nezalezhnosti-karpatskoyi-ukrayiny

15. World War II in Transcarpathia began with Carpathian Ukraine. (2017). Retrieved from http://argumentua.com/stati/ vtoraya-mirovaya-voina-v-zakarpate-nachalas-s-karpatskoi-ukrainy

16. Gromyko, A.A. (Ed.). (1986). Diplomatic Dictionary: In 3 volumes. Vol. 3. Moscow.

17. Kuras, I.F. (Ed.). (2003). Political history of Ukraine. Twentieth century: In 6 volumes. Vol. 6. Kyiv: Heneza.

18. Rusyn-Lemko reflections. Carpathian Russia from 03.01.1969.

19. Havrysh, O. (2017). Ukraine and Russia. The Kremlin's bet on the Ruthenian “prime minister” without a portfolio. Retrieved from https://www.radiosvoboda.org/a/28546663.html.

20. Adamovych, S. (2009). The role of the Communist Party of Ukraine in the formation of political Rusynism in Transcarpathia. Bulletin of the Precarpathian University. History, XVI, 17-28.

21. Zozulyak, A. (1991). The frogs of the fruits of our fathers have not disappeared. And the World Congress of Ruthenians. Rusyn. 1991, Part 2; Ruthenians: A new or renewed people? (From the speech of Prof. Pavel Robert Magochi at the First World Congress of Ruthenians in Medzhilabirtsi). Rusyn. 1991, Part 2.

22. Medeshy, L. (1994). The First World Congress on the Ruthenian language. Rusyn. 1994, Part 1; 1994, Part 2.

23. Fedynyshynets, V. (1995). Historical metaphor of Professor Magochi. Uzhhorod: Patent.

Suggested citation

Kharyshyn, М. (2021). Political Rusynism: Historical Retrospective of Its Origin and Geopolitical Transformation. Foreign Affairs, 31(6), 9-19. 10.46493/2663-2675.31(6).2021.9-19