Illegal anarchist periodicals as a historical source on the history and political ideology of anarchism in Ukraine in the early XX century

Abstract

The article examines the illegal anarchist press as an important historical source for the study of the anarchist movement in Ukraine in the early twentieth century. The historiography of the problem is analyzed, and the approaches to the study of underground periodicals in the works of researchers of the Ukrainian press and revolutionary movements are characterized. Particular attention is paid to the source-study features of illegal publications, their informational potential, and the specifics of their use in historical research. It is established that the anarchist press performed not only informational and propagandistic functions but also served as an important means of political communication, coordination of underground groups, and formation of the ideological foundations of the movement.

     The study analyzes foreign and local anarchist publications distributed on Ukrainian territories during 1903–1914, including the journals Khleb i Volya, Burevestnik, Nabat, Anarkhist, and Rabochiy mir. Their structure, thematic content, and functional purpose are examined. The main groups of materials presented in the illegal periodicals are identified, including theoretical articles, propaganda texts, critical publications, leaflets, obituaries, and letters to the editors.

     Based on the analysis of archival materials and periodicals, the article substantiates that the illegal anarchist press is a valuable source for studying political culture, revolutionary everyday life, and the processes of social radicalization in Ukraine at the beginning of the twentieth century.