Archive
«The Ethnology Notebooks» 2020 year, issue 1 read »
2011 year, issue 2 read »
The Ethnology Notebooks. 2023. № 2 (170). С. 271-502 DOI... read »
The Ethnology Notebooks. 2021. #5 (161). P. 1033– DOI... read »

« 2019. #2 (146)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2019, 2 (146), 387—402

UDK 061.2(=161.2:73)”1967″
DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/nz2019.02.387

THE FIRST WORLD CONGRESS OF FREE UKRAINIANS: ON THE WAY TO CONSOLIDATION OF THE WORLD UKRAINIANITY

YATSIV Andriy

ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1421-6518

Master of History,

Deputy Director,

The International Institute of Education, Culture and Diaspora Relations,

Lviv Polytechnic National University,

32A, Stepana Bandery Street, 79013, Lviv, Ukraine

Contacts: Е-mail: yatsiv@gmail.com

Abstract. The article covers the preconditions, preparation and course of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians, held in 1967 in New York, USA.

Today, under conditions of challenges facing Ukraine due to the military aggression of the Russian Federation and the accompanying «hybrid» threats confronting both Ukrainian and Western societies, a comprehensive study of the history of WCFU-UWC and valuable experience of this coordinating superstructure of the Ukrainian diaspora, which in conditions of statelessness was able to unite the world Ukrainianity and become a powerful socio-political factor in the international arena, is relevant.

The purpose of the article is to investigate the preconditions and the course of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians in 1967 as an important factor in consolidation of the world Ukrainianity in the second half of the 20th century. The object of the study is the Western Ukrainian Diaspora and the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. The subject of the study is the process of consolidation of the Ukrainian diaspora in the middle of the 20th century, preparation and holding of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians in 1967.

The methodological basis of the study relies on a comprehensive academic method based on the principles of objectivity, historicism, descriptive, systemic, structural, typological method and causal analysis of material presentation. The practical significance of the study lies in the possibility of using its conclusions to broaden theoretical basis of Ukrainian diaspora studies and the Ukrainian socio-political view of the 20th century.

Despite numerous historical, ideological and organizational obstacles, the efforts made by the Western Ukrainian diaspora to prepare and convene the WCFU proved not to be in vain. The congress consolidated the dispersed communities of the Ukrainian diaspora and became a factor of national upsurge in Ukrainian communities and the media of the diaspora. The WCFU programmatic manifestations gave a clear understanding of the challenges and problems faced by the Ukrainian people in the second half of the 20th century, as well as formulated clear objectives for the Ukrainian diaspora and mechanisms for their implementation, providing new approaches to the activities of the Ukrainian diaspora structures for the next decades.

Keywords: Ukrainian diaspora, Ukrainian World Congress, the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians, State Independence of Ukraine, Vasyl Kushnir, Yosyp Lysohir.

Received 26.02.2019

REFERENCES

XI Ukrainian World Congress. (2018). Ukrainian World Congress. Official web page. Retrieved from: http://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/index.php/id/845.
Paul Grod elected President of the Ukrainian World Congress. Ukrainian World Congress. Official web page. Retrieved from: http://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/news.php/news/1930/group/1.
Petrychenko, K. (2014). At the origins of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Retrieved from: http://vidia.ua/2014/28718.
Tykhenko, V. (2016). Documents on the history of the World Congress of Ukrainians. Archives of Ukraine, 3—4, 302—303 [in Ukrainian].
Neduzhko, Y. (2006). The struggle of the Ukrainian diaspora of the United States of America for the revival of Ukraine’s state independence (the end of the 50’s and early 60’s of the twentieth century). All-Ukrainian scientific journal «Mandrivets», 4 [in Ukrainian].
Neduzhko, Y. (2009). The Ukrainian diaspora in the process of restoration of the state independence of Ukraine (mid 40’s — early 90’s of the twentieth century). Lutsk: National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Institute of European Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; Volyn Regional Printing House [in Ukrainian].
Kononenko, A. (2016). «Ukrainian World Congress» in the context of supporting the sovereignty of Ukraine and the inviolability of its borders. Ukrainian studies almanac, 19 [in Ukrainian].
Atamanenko, A. (2013). Ukraine and overseas Ukrainians. Scientific notes of the National University of Ostroh Academy. Historical sciences, 21 [in Ukrainian].
Lozynskyj, A. (2013). Ukrainian World Congress and the UN: for the justice. Kyiv: Publishing House «Kyiv-Mohyla Academy» [in Ukrainian].
Sosnovskyj, M. (1969). Ways of Realizing the Concept of All-Ukrainian Unity. In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
Communication of the Secretariat of the Pan American Ukrainian Conference. (1948). Svoboda, 69 [in Ukrainian].
Communication from the meetings of the Secretariat of the Pan-American Ukrainian Conference in Toronto, Canada. (1948). Svoboda, 253 [in Ukrainian].
Documentary online exhibition «No one will crush my people!». In Central State Archives of Foreign Archival Ucrainica. Retrieved from: http://tsdazu.gov.ua/index.php/ua/online/47-all/1194-171117.html
Bazarko, I. (1967). World Congress of Free Ukrainians in the light of facts. Svoboda, 185 [in Ukrainian].
PAUC set up a preparatory committee for the convening of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians in the autumn of 1961. (1960). Svoboda, 210 [in Ukrainian].
Manifesto of the Pan-American Ukrainian Conference on the convening of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. (1969). In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
WCFU, consolidation, field work and plans for the future were the subject of meetings and decisions of the executive and the UCCA Coordinating Board. (1967). Svoboda, 194 [in Ukrainian].
Participation of women in the WCFU. (1967). Svoboda, 194 [in Ukrainian].
World Session of Ukrainian Women in the framework of WCFU. (1968). Svoboda, 198 [in Ukrainian].
The President of the UNC and the Chairman of the Executive Body attribute new hopes to the WCFU. (1969). Svoboda, 198 [in Ukrainian].
The art exhibition in NY has been rushed for the WCFU. (1967). Svoboda, 170 [in Ukrainian].
What do we expect from the WCFU? (1967). Svoboda, 179 [in Ukrainian].
The Ukrainian People’s Union calls on its members to take part in the World Congress of Free Ukrainians, in particular at the Freedom Manifestation at Madison Square Garden. (1967). Svoboda, 188 [in Ukrainian].
WCFU — a great deal. (1967). Svoboda, 179 [in Ukrainian].
For the correct approach to the WCFU. (1967). Svoboda, 194 [in Ukrainian].
Inter-factional meeting of members of the UNCouncil hopes for a quick convocation of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. (1964). Svoboda, 125 [in Ukrainian].
UNCouncil on the World Congress. (1964). Svoboda, 218 [in Ukrainian].
Karyj, A. (1967). Some thoughts about the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Suchasnist, 11. Munich [in Ukrainian].
Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. (1969). Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
The role and tasks of the World Congress of Ukrainians in the world and in Ukraine. Chas i Podii. Retrieved from: https://www.chasipodii.net/article/14377/
Ceremonial pipe of peace. (1967). Lys Mykyta, 12 [in Ukrainian].
Syrnyk, I. (1969). Ukrainians in their countries of residence. In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
Dobrianskyj, L. (1969). The concept of the Ukrainian politics in the life of our countries. In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
Vaskovych, H. (1969). Social-political situation in Ukraine and attempts of our assistance in the liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people. In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
Bojko, Y. (1969). Spiritual state in Ukraine and on emigration. In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
The first Manifesto for the Ukrainian people in Ukraine and abroad in the USSR and the Soviet bloc. (1969). In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
Appeal to Ukrainians outside Ukraine. (1969). In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
Statute of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians. (1969). In Materials of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. Winnipeg; New York; London [in Ukrainian].
A demonstration for the freedom of Ukraine on the occasion of the First World Congress of Free Ukrainians. (1967) [in Ukrainian].
Gansberg, M. (1967). Police Repulse 2,000 Marchers at Soviet U.N. Mission The New York Times.
Congressional Record. (1967). In Proceedings and debates of the 90 Congress. First session (Volume 113, part 24).
From the directive of the head of the KGB to the UkSSR RM to the heads of the KGB departments to intensify the struggle with organizations of Ukrainian emigrants. (2017). In Ukrainian SSR and foreign Ukrainians (1950—1980’s): Documents and materials [in Ukrainian].
Information message of the head of the KGB in the PM of the Ukrainian SSR Nikitchenko V.F. to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine regarding the information of the radio stations «Freedom» and «Voice of America» on the results of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians in New York. (1967). In Electronic archive of the Ukrainian liberation movement. Retrieved from: http://avr.org.ua/index.php/viewDoc/26173/.
The KGB leadership guide for the USSR RM to the heads of the KGB departments to counter the proliferation of WCFU documents in Ukraine (2017). In Ukrainian SSR and foreign Ukrainians (1950-1980’s): Documents and materials [in Ukrainian].
The Kremlin tries to ban the activities of the World Congress of Ukrainians. 5.ua. Retrieved from: https://www.5.ua/svit/kreml-namahaietsia-zaboronyty-diialnist-svitovoho-konhresu-ukraintsiv-112090.html.
The Russian Federation continues its efforts to ban the activities of the World Congress of Ukrainians. In Ukrainian World Congress. Official web page. Retrieved from: http://www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/news.php/news/1360/lang/ua
«Patriotic Stop-list»: The World Congress of Ukrainians is included in the Russian list of «undesirable organizations». 5.ua. Retrieved from: https://www.5.ua/svit/patriotychnyi-stoplyst-rf-svitovyi-konhres-ukraintsiv-vneseno-do-rosiiskoho-spysku-nebazhanykh-orhanizatsii-134133.html.
Shelest, P. (1995). Yes, you will not be judged. Diaries and memoirs of a member of the Politburo of the Central Committee of the CPSU. Moscow: ed. Edition q [in Russian].

Read»

Our authors
Stepan Pavluk. Prof., full member of NAS of Ukraine,... read »
Oksana Kis. Senior scientific employee, candidate of... read »
Boliuk Oleh - kandidate of sciences in arts, Doctoral... read »
Roman Radovych. Researcher, Ph.D. in History. read »
Boikos’ pandemonium: categories of evil deceased
In the article have been presented some research-work on peculiarities of Boikos’ traditional demonological notions as for so-called evil deceased; on the basis of field records and ethnological literary sources quite a number of scum categories have been defined as well as essential habits, modes of behavior and functions of these personages of people’s demonology.
Read »

On field exploration of russian and belarusian ethnologists and etnolinguists in Ukrainian Polisia 1945—1980s
In the study based on a wide range of literary materials have been comprehensively characterised field research in Polisia of Ukraine, performed by Russian and Belarusian ethnologists during 1945—1980s as well as Moscow ethnolinguists and other researchers from ethnologic centres of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in the course of realization of Ethnolinguistic Atlas of Polisia program. Particular attention has been paid to geography, methods, themes and research results of scientific projects.
Read »

On bessarabian and moldavian ukrainians in the studies of historical ethnography
The article has thrown some light upon a sum of scientific findings got during XIX to XXI cc. in historio-ethnographic studies of Bessarabia and Moldavian Ukrainians. In the pre­sent paper has been given author’s answer to the problem of lacking progress as for the numerous themes concerning Ukrainians. State and achievements of the research-works in Ukrainians’ material and spiritual culture by the scientists of Moldavia and Ukraine through the years of independence has been exposed.
Read »

Wax candle as ukrainian Christmas and epiphany ritualistic text
For the first time in native ethnology the article has brought some results of special study in sign functionality of a wax candle under the context of Ukrainian Christmas and Epiphany ritualistic text (ritualism of Christmas Eve, New Year, Epiphany Eve and Feast of Epiphany). The study has stated extremely high semiotic position of a wax candle as projection of Sun, mediator between the spheres of sacral and prophane elements, symbolic analogue of human existence, apotropy, cultural symbol re-establishing borders of acculturated space.
Read »