Imperial policy vs. the Ukrainian printed word in the public discourse of the early 20th century

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the transformation of the national policy of the Russian Empire in the early 20th century and its impact on the Ukrainian population. Particular focus is placed on researching the public dimension of the discourse of that time, which saw a sharp polemic regarding imperial prohibitions on the Ukrainian printed word. A fundamental aspect of this work is the reconstruction of key stages in the emergence and formation of Ukrainian national publications, highlighting the mechanisms of their legalization under censorship restrictions, and analyzing the confrontation between Ukrainian publishers and proponents of Russian autocracy during the 1905–1907 Revolution.

The research methodology is based on a combination of the fundamental principles of historical research (historicism, scientific objectivity, etc.) with the methodological tools of journalism. In particular, in the course of the work we used special historical methods: chronological, historical-genetic, historical-comparative and retrospective. Also, when working with the periodical press, we used the methods of content analysis of periodicals, discursive and comparative analysis.

Results. The study reveals that in the early 20th century, the public sphere became an arena for ideological confrontation between the Ukrainian movement and the Russian autocracy. The article highlights the arguments of conservative-monarchist forces that denied the uniqueness of the Ukrainian language, contrasted with the counterarguments of the Ukrainian intelligentsia who advocated for the repeal of the Valuev Circular and the Ems Ukase. The key milestones in the liberalization of national policy are outlined. Special attention is paid to the development of the Ukrainian printed word and national periodicals following the proclamation of the Manifesto of October 17, 1905. The efforts of Ye. Chykalenko, S. Yefremov, and V. Leontovych to obtain permits for the first Ukrainian-language newspapers are examined. In particular, the study focuses on the publication of «Hromadska Dumka» («Public Opinion»), the first daily Ukrainian socio-political, economic, and literary newspaper in Right-Bank Ukraine. It is emphasized that despite official permission, the newspaper's editorial board faced constant persecution by the Russian gendarmerie.

Conclusions. The author proves that the emergence of the national press in the early 20th century occurred amidst fierce resistance from the imperial bureaucracy. Despite declared freedoms, the government continued its policy of discrimination by blocking the development of Ukrainian book publishing and creating artificial barriers for periodicals. The public discourse demonstrated the consolidation of the Ukrainian intelligentsia, who utilized legal printing opportunities to criticize the autocracy and call for a unified struggle among the oppressed peoples of the empire.