"DEADLY ENEMY OF THE POLISH PEOPLE": IMAGES OF MYKHAILO HRUSHEVSKY IN POLISH JOURNALISM

Abstract

Summary. The purpose of the publication is to clarify the dynamics of assessments of M. Hrushevsky’s socio-political activities in the pages of Polish periodicals of the early twentieth century. The methodological basis is an interdisciplinary approach. Special emphasis is placed on the structural-functional systematic analysis of historiographical facts and the method of critical analysis of documentary material. The scientific novelty of the article lies in the attempt to comprehensively analyse the Polish Hrushevsky studies in terms of the reaction of its representatives to the socio-political initiatives of a prominent Ukrainian historian. Conclusions. The conducted historiographical analysis showed that Polish journalism was unconditionally critical towards M. Hrushevsky’s numerous cultural and public initiatives. None of the scientist’s attempts to gain more rights for Ukrainians in Eastern Galicia were met with sympathy. We would like to note that Polish publicists of all parties united in a consistent denial of the arguments of the Lviv professor. Instead, we can note a clear change in tone in the discussion with M. Hrushevsky. Thus, the balanced critical writings at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries were replaced in the last pre-war years by the demonstrative profanation of his suggestions for the normalization of Polish-Ukrainian relations. At the same time, the image of the scholar in the pages of Polish periodicals became more and more demonised. All these actions were components of the general ideological attack of Polish intellectuals on modern Ukrainians, that in the last years of the Great War turned into an armed conflict.