Social and Political Activity of Slava Stetsko in the Context of Ethnocultural Processes in Ukraine in the Period from the Mid-1980s to the Early 2000s

Abstract

The article analyzes social and political activity of the outstanding figure of the Ukrainian national liberation movement and the global anti-Bolshevik movement Yaroslava (Slava) Stetsko, and her influence on ethnocultural processes in Ukraine in the period from the mid-1980s to the early 2000s. The role of the Anti-Bolshevik Bloc of Nations (ABN), the World Anti-Communist League (WACL), and the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (CUN) is analyzed. It has been found that Ya. Stetsko made a significant contribution to the establishment and development of ethnocultural, state-building, and nation-building processes, in particular, at the international level; defended the national interests of the Ukrainian people; supported the struggle of enslaved peoples around the world; defended the rights of every nation for its own state on its ethnic territory and the preservation of ethnocultural identity among post-colonial states. It is established that Ya. Stetsko headed, rebuilt, and brought to the Parliament of Ukraine the nationalist parliamentary party of the CUN, which became an effective defender of national and cultural values, ethnocultural traditions, language, educational, and social priorities in the Ukrainian society since the 1980s to the early 2000s. It is shown that Ya. Stetsko conducted active charitable, public, and educational work and supported projects aimed at overcoming the consequences of imposing Soviet regime, communization and Russification, thus contributing to the preservation and spread of national-patriotic ideology in the Ukrainian society, the development of education and science, politics and state administration, cultural traditions, religious values and moral institutions, and the protection of Ukrainian culture from the concepts and ideologies which were alien and hostile to her.