Some aspects of Ukrainian national and legal consciousness in the early twentieth century: an interpretation of Bohdan Zaklynskyi’s text

Abstract

The relevance of the problem indicated in the title is due to the need to understand the historical mechanisms of the formation of national and legal consciousness of Ukrainians in times of crisis. The author's interpretation of the text of Bohdan Zaklinsky's brochure "What Every Ukrainian Should Know?" (1915) allows us to trace how the processes that took place over a hundred years ago help to understand more deeply the nature of modern Ukrainian stability and identity in the conditions of Russian aggression. The article examines certain aspects of the formation of national and legal consciousness of Ukrainians at the beginning of the 20th century. The author interprets the relationship between these two fundamental phenomena based on the material of Bohdan Zaklinsky's catechism, revealing how the processes of national self-identification and awareness of violated collective rights were closely intertwined in the text. The theoretical part examines the interpenetration of national consciousness (as an "imagined community" according to B. Anderson) and legal consciousness, which developed synchronously in the conditions of Central and Eastern Europe. It is shown that the awareness of oneself as a separate people was inextricably linked with the understanding of the violation of historical and natural rights. The historical context of the creation of the text recreates the atmosphere of 1915 - the height of the First World War, the division of Ukrainian lands between two empires and the active activity of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine. Special attention is paid to the genre choice of B. Zaklinsky's work - the catechism. It is suggested that for the realities of the beginning of the last century, such a genre was an effective tool of mass national and legal education. Analyzing the text, the author traces the key elements of national consciousness (self-identification, territorial thinking, linguistic loyalty, historical memory) and legal consciousness (awareness of the violation of historical law, the right to self-determination, the right to resistance, the category of justice). It is proven that in Zaklinsky these two types of consciousness are deeply intertwined and mutually reinforce each other. In general, Zaklinsky's text is considered an important source that reflects the transitional state of the national and legal consciousness of Ukrainians during the First World War. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the ideas embodied in the catechism have demonstrated exceptional viability. At a time when Ukraine is once again forced to defend its right to exist in the face of Russian aggression, reflections on Bohdan Zaklinsky's work allow for a deeper understanding of the historical sources of modern Ukrainian resilience, national unity, and the desire for freedom. Keywords: national consciousness, legal consciousness, Bohdan Zaklinsky, catechism, right to self-determination, Ukrainian national movement, World War I, 1915.