Jubilee Hrushevsky Studies of 1966: Problems, Interpretations, Polemics

Abstract

The article aims to clarify the peculiarities of the reception of M. Hrushevsky’s scientific and socio-political activities by Ukrainian foreign historians in the context of his centenary celebration. The research methodology applies the principles of historicism and objectivity, as well as general scientific and special-historical methods of historiographical research. The scientific novelty of the article is in an attempt to comprehensively reconstruct the historiographical effect of the celebration of the centennial anniversary of M. Hrushevsky by Ukrainian intellectuals abroad. Conclusions. The summarized multifaceted material makes it possible to convincingly state that the centenary of M. Hrushevsky became a significant event in the intellectual life of Ukrainians abroad. Despite the stereotyped thinking of some diaspora figures, thanks to extensive media promotion and numerous public and scientific initiatives, the commemoration was turned into a celebration of Ukrainian culture, which is important for the consolidation of the emigrant community. As a result, numerous innovative historiographic studies based on actualized issues appeared. Their authors, in their reconstructions of M. Hrushevsky’s life and activities, took into account an increasingly wide range of cognitive perspectives and intellectual contexts. And the lively discussion of these works, the appearance of provocative interpretations (for example, O. Pritsak), the public resonance of many initiatives contributed to the stability of the "tone" of historiographical interest. All this made possible the emergence of L. Vynar’s disciplinary initiative to start Hrushevsky studies as a separate branch of reasearch. The dynamism of the progress of this field of Ukrainian studies in the following decades allows us to confirm the power of the historiographical impulse given by the anniversary events.