THE TRANSFORMATION OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL EXPANSIONIST POLICY (the 18th – MID-19th CENTURIES): A HISTORIOSOPHICAL REASSESSMENT OF THE UKRAINIAN CONTEXT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24919/2519-058X.39.364997Abstract
The purpose of the research is to reassess the transformation of the Russian imperial expansionist policy from the 18th century to the mid-19th century, with a particular focus on the historiosophical dimension within the Ukrainian context. The methodology of the research is grounded in the principles of historicism, dialectics, system analysis, and objectivity, employing both general scientific methods (such as analysis, synthesis, abstraction, generalization) and specialized historical methods (comparative historical, historical genetic, historical typological, among others). Scientific Novelty. There has been provided an in-depth analysis of the Russian imperial expansionism transformation during this period, for the first time in domestic historiography, while accounting for the historiosophical aspect of Ukraine’s experience. Conclusions. There has been concluded that it is required to conduct deeper and more critical analysis regarding the transformation of the Russian imperial expansionist policy from the 18th to the mid-19th century, in light of contemporary realities. This particularly concerns the historiosophical aspect of the process of integrating representatives of the Ukrainian national elite into the Russian state and society. The policy of the Russian Empire in Ukraine during the latter half of the 18th to the mid-19th century underwent a significant evolution – from unification measures, generally characteristic of any empire’s legal framework, to overtly discriminatory actions against the Ukrainians. These actions were driven by a chauvinistic orientation that accompanied the formation of the Russian political nation. Consequently, the Russian imperialism was inherently chauvinistic and expansionist. This made it especially aggressive toward peoples, who embodied alternative values such as democracy, republicanism, and a strong sense of freedom. In contrast to the autocratic imperial model of Russia, the Ukrainian society – rooted in the traditions of democracy and republicanism and sustained by the historical memory of the Cossack self-governance and the Cossack-Hetman state – was able to resist the Russian chauvinistic policies for a considerable time. It is no coincidence that the Ukrainian nation and its statehood became primary targets of the Russian expansionism and Russification. Furthermore, the Ukrainians were among the most active in opposing the Russian imperial policies. Therefore, there is a pressing need to challenge various Russian great-power myths about “brotherly peoples” and the so-called “civilizing mission” of the Russian Empire. The policy of the Russian imperial expansionism during this period clearly demonstrated a profound disregard for the rights of all peoples, especially the Ukrainians. Moreover, imperial policy aimed to nullify the cultural distinctions between the Ukrainians and the Russians, ultimately seeking to destroy the Ukrainian national identity.
Keywords: Russian imperialism, expansionism, transformation of politics, historiosophy, identity, Cossack elders, despotism.
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