Forced mobilization to the imperial army in Right-Bank Ukraine: socio-cultural consequences and public perception (late 18th – first half of the 19th century)

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of forced mobilization to the imperial army in Right-Bank Ukraine at the end of the 18th - the first half of the 19th century. as a socio-cultural phenomenon. The aim of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the perception of conscription by the population, the forms of public reaction to it and determine its long-term socio-cultural consequences in the context of relations between the state and society, as well as to understand historical experience in the light of modern mobilization processes in Ukraine.

The methodological basis of the study is the principles of historicism, systemicity and an interdisciplinary approach, involving the methods of social history, historical anthropology and comparative analysis. A set of sources was used, in particular archival documents, scientific works, as well as materials of oral folklore, which allow reconstructing the emotional perception of conscription and its reflection in collective memory. As a result of the study, it was established that conscription was perceived by the population as a burdensome and unfair phenomenon, which caused fear, distrust of the authorities and various forms of social resistance, including evasion, escape and hiding of recruits. It is shown that mobilization practices had a significant impact on social structures, in particular, they caused the destruction of family ties, loss of labor resources and the formation of a negative image of the state. Special attention is paid to the reflection of conscription in folklore, which records its traumatic nature and allows for a deeper understanding of the socio-psychological aspects of this phenomenon.

It is found that the reactions of the population to forced mobilization in the 19th century. have typological parallels with modern public sentiments in Ukraine, in particular regarding the perception of forced practices as social pressure. At the same time, it is determined that the fundamental difference of the modern situation is the higher level of legitimacy of the state and the awareness of the defensive nature of war. The conclusions emphasize that the historical experience of recruitment demonstrates the importance of ensuring social justice, transparency and trust as key conditions for the effectiveness of mobilization policy.