INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS IN STEPAN BANDERA'S OPINION JOURNALISM

Abstract

This study is devoted to Stepan Bandera (1909-1959). S. Bandera is a remarkable person and a leading figure in the Ukrainian liberation movement. He was the leader of OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) and wrote many articles dealing with socio-political issues both in Ukraine and among Ukrainian exiles from 1940-1950. His publications and ideological teachings became the foundation for the ongoing development of OUN. The spread of Ukrainian nationalism and its increasing popularity among the people under S. Bandera's leadership became a phenomenon, and the enemies of Ukraine identified the whole liberation movement with his name. S. Bandera included international issues and relations in all his works. This was of the utmost importance to the Ukrainian people and the whole liberation movement because it responded to the negative image of Ukrainian nationalists that the Soviets and their propaganda machine were creating and spreading. Émigré periodicals publishing his works were: «Vyzvolna Polityka» and «Vyzvolnyi Shliakh» (London); «Chas» (Fürth, Germany); «Ukrainskyi Samostiinyk» (Munich, Germany); «Homin Ukrainy» (Toronto, Canada); «Ukrainskyi Visnyk» (New York); «Surma»; and more. S. Bandera's signed articles by different pen names: «Siryi S.A.», «Siryi S.B.», «SAS», «Byilykho», «A. Vlast», and «Tesliar». From the perspective of international relations, it could be seen that S. Bandera's key principles were to establish close cooperation among the representatives of all captive nations and to oppose all totalitarian regimes which were taking hold in Eastern Europe and Asia. It was important to connect with the ethnic minorities living with Ukrainians in and out of Ukraine. Keywords: Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), ideology, opinion journalism, nation-building projects, international relations, struggle.