Ukrainian-polish relations of the first half of 20th century in the perception of modern ukrainians (according to sociological polls 2013–2018)

Abstract

Background: Ukrainian-Polish relations have a centuries-old component and an ambiguous, contradictory history, which is filled with joint victories and cooperation, as well as with antagonisms and bloody conflicts, especially when it comes to the first half of the 20th century. The problem of the attitude of Ukrainians to the history of Ukrainian-Polish relations of the 20th century is relevant in modern historical research. Studying this topic will allow us to better know and understand Poland and its citizens, which has been almost the main lobbyist for Ukrainian interests in the European Union in recent years. After all, as of today, not a single specialized study has been identified that could exhaustively reveal the mentioned problematics. Purpose. The purpose of the proposed article is to search on the basis of materials of Ukrainian and Polish sociological centers for a comprehensive analysis of the perception of modern Ukrainians of the history of Ukrainian-Polish relations of the first half of 20th century. Results. Ukrainian-Polish relations in the first half of the 20th century remained a heavy burden for future generations of Ukrainians and Poles. At the same time, at the beginning of the 21th century, the historical grievances of the past no longer divide Ukrainians in the perception of Poland and Poles as before. The old stereotypes about Poles as "the eternal enemies of Ukrainians" are gradually being overcome, but they are still being traced. The main sources from which the сitizens of Ukraine draw information about the history of Ukrainian-Polish relations are: conversations with family, school, books, movies, Ukrainian channels and Internet resources. At the same time, Ukrainians have not formed a clear idea of the historical grievances of the past. Thus, in particular, Polish statesman Józef Piłsudski remained unknown to respondents. In our opinion, these indicators show a low interest in history among the Ukrainians, as well as the lack of information about Poland and Poles and their role in the history of Ukraine. Key words: Ukraine, Poland, Poles, Ukrainians, Ukrainian-Polish relations, perception, sociological poll. Baturina, S., 2020. The image of Poles and Poland in Ukrainian School Textbooks. Siverian chronicle, 6, pp.52–62. (In Ukrainian) Fomina, J., Konіechna-Salamatin, J., Kukharchyk, Ya. and Venerski, L., 2013. Poland – Ukraine, Poles – Ukrainians. Opinions from abroad. Warshawa: Instytut hromads’kykh sprav. (In Ukrainian) Hud’, B., 2012. Revindication policy in the Kholm and Volyn’ regions in 1937–1938 and its cosequences for the Ukrainian-Polish relations. Ukraine: cultural heritage, national consciousness, statehood, 21, pp.256–266. (In Ukrainian) Kipiani, V., ed., 2019. The war of two truths. Poles and Ukrainians in the bloody 20th century. Kharkiv: Vivat. (In Ukrainian) Koniechna-Salamatin, J., Otrischenko, N. and Stryiek, T., 2018. History. People. Events. Research report on the memory of contemporary Poles and Ukrainians. Warshawa: Collegium Civitas. (In Ukrainian) Kupriianovych, H., 2008. 1938. Action of destruction of Orthodox churches in Kholm and Southern Podlasie. 2 ed. Kholm: Liublins’ko-Kholms’ka pravoslavna ieparkhiia. (In Ukrainian) Mędrzecki, W., 2018. Borderline kaleidoscope. Journeys through the eastern territories of the Second Polish Republic, 1918–1939. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Literackie. (In Polish) Research & Branding Group, 2017. Ukrainian-Polish relations [online]. Available at: https://rb.com.ua/blog/ukrainsko-polskie-otnoshenija/ [Accessed 1 February 2021]. (In Ukrainian) Rosół, K., 2019. National image, media discourse – Poland and Ukraine. In: M. Apollo i M. Krupska-Klimczak, ed. Poland and Ukraine: Problems and prospects. Kraków: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Uniwersytetu Pedagogicznego, pp.67–81. (In Polish) Strilchuk, L., 2015. Problems of migration across the state border in modern Ukrainian-Polish relations. Local Lore Studies, 4–5, pp.105–109. (In Ukrainian) Stryjek, T. and Sklokin, V., ed., 2021. Historical Cultures of Poland and Ukraine. On the Sources of Misunderstandings Between Neighbors. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Scholar, Collegium Civitas. (In Polish) Stryjek, T., Konieczna-Sałamatin, J. and Zacharuk, K., 2017. Ukrainians about history, culture and Polish-Ukrainian relations. Warszawa: Narodowe Centrum Kultury. (In Polish) Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, 2015. On the Legal Status and Honoring the Memory of Fighters for Ukraine’s Independence in the 20th сentury. Law of Ukraine № 314-VIII [online]. https://zakon.rada.gov.ua/laws/show/314-19#Text [Accessed 5 February 2021]. (In Ukrainian) V’iatrovych, V., 2011. The Gordian Knot: the second Polish-Ukrainian war 1942–1947. Kyiv: Kyievo-Mohylians’ka akademiia. (In Ukrainian) Zarembo, K., 2016. Foreign Policy Audit: Ukraine–Poland. Kyiv: Instytut svitovoi polityky. (In Ukrainian) Zashkilnyak, L., 1997. Attempts at Ukrainian-Polish understanding in the interwar Poland: expectation and reality. In: Ukrainian-Polish relations in Halychyna in the 20th century: materials of the international scientific-practical conference. Ivano-Frankivs’k, Ukraine, November 21–22, 1996. Ivano-Frankivs’k: Plaj. (In Ukrainian) Zashkilnyak, L., 2005. Ukraine between Poland and Russia: historiography and social consciousness. Ukrainian Historical Journal, 5, pp.93–113. (In Ukrainian) Zashkilnyak, L., 2008. Ukrainian-Polish relations of 20th century in social consciousness of Ukrainians and Poles. Visnyk of the Lviv University. Sociological series, 2, pp.127–137. (In Ukrainian)