Ukrainian-czechoslovak agrarianist discourse in 1920s - 1930s

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose is to investigate the Ukrainian-Czechoslovak agrarianist discourse of the 1920s and 1930s.Conclusion. The authors found out that in the 1920s and 1930s, active cooperation developed between Czechoslovak and Ukrainian agrarianists, the most prominent centre of which wasthe Ukrainian Agrarian Society and the Ukrainian Academy of Economics in Podebrady. In thewritings of Ukrainian and Czechoslovak agrarianists, the concept of «the newest agrarianism»,together with criticism of liberalism, capitalism, socialism, communism and fascism, acquired alogical and systematic presentation. The ideological mutual influence regarding the defence of theeconomic and moral advantages of agriculture, small private ownership of land, cooperation, aswell as state regulation of the economy is noticeable. The Ukrainian-Czechoslovak agrarianistdiscourse clearly emphasizes moderate reforms, which are understood as tools for the formationof a large class of grain-grower owners. The views of the theorist of Ukrainian agrarianism of theinterwar period H. Simantsiv are related to the opinions of theorists and practitioners of Czechoslovak agrarianism – A. Svehla, M. Hodza, J. Kettner and others, whose works the author of «the newest agrarianism» became acquainted with during his activities in the Ukrainian Agrarian Society(UAS) and the Ukrainian Academy of Economics in Podyebrady. In addition, the Symantsiv Ukrainian model of the newest agrarianism is based on the understanding of not only European, in particular Czechoslovakian, agrarianist theoretical thought, but also Ukrainian. The durability of theUkrainian intellectual agrarianist tradition, such as the views of M. Hrushevsky and V. Lypynsky,is palpable, its distinct presence in the Symantsiv’s Ukrainian concept of agrarianism. H. Simantsivmanaged to logically and consistently reveal the essence and content of the newest agrarianism.He substantiates the principles and positions of modern agrarianism concerning the individualityof the peasantry, its mentality, the role of the peasantry as an active subject of state- and nationbuilding, etc. Thus, the intellectual heritage of H. Simantsiv is a self-sufficient Ukrainian concept ofthe newest agrarianism, which is consistent with the Czechoslovak agrarianist discourse.