The influence of Cossack traditions on the formation of Ukraine's state identity

Abstract

This article aimed to explore the significance of Cossack heritage in historical and cultural contexts, as well as its role in shaping national consciousness, political culture, and the principles of state-building of the Ukrainian people. To achieve this goal, a range of theoretical methods were employed, including the analysis of scientific literature, historical sources, and cultural studies, as well as methods of comparison and generalization. The study found that state identity implies a stable awareness among citizens of their political and legal connection with Ukraine, its people, and civil society. National identity is a more complex phenomenon that combines elements of both cultural and civic identity. Ukrainian ethnic and state identity began to take shape before the Rus-Ukraina (Kyivan Rus) era. During that time, the foundations of the people's political consciousness were laid, including collective governance and democratic principles. During the Polish-Lithuanian rule, the Cossacks established a unique system of self-governance based on the viche (popular assembly). The value system of the Cossacks emphasized ideals of civil society that determined their social, political, and economic roles: respect for communal will, equality, chivalric honor, service to the common good, and patriotism. The Cossacks were instrumental in demonstrating that Ukrainians were a distinct people striving for freedom, with their own language, faith, culture, and traditions. One of the most vivid examples of successful state-building was the formation of the Ukrainian state during the National Liberation War of 1648–1657 under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky. During this period, a Ukrainian state was established, possessing all the essential state-legal institutions characteristic of a sovereign nation. Today, Cossack traditions remain an essential component of Ukrainian national identity. They are reflected in the revival of Cossack organizations, the popularization of historical reenactments, military affairs, and Ukraine’s state symbols. The analysis results allow us to conclude that Cossack traditions played a decisive role in shaping Ukrainian state identity, particularly through the development of democratic principles of self-governance, as well as the ideas of national freedom and independence.