The Rusin agenda in the works of Russian Conservatives of the late 19th - early 20th century

Abstract

The article analyses the statements of a number of right-wing conservative politicians, publicists, and thinkers concerning various aspects (socio-economic, political, religious, and cultural) of the life of the Rusinian population of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Analyzing the socio-political life of the Austro-Hungarian Rusins, Conservatives drew attention to their difficult economic situation, criticized the Austro-Hungarian authorities and the Polish public and called for the development of possible ways to improve the situation. Russian Conservatives mostly focused on the spiritual and cultural life of the Rusins in Austria-Hungary and emphasised that, despite Uniatism imposed on them, the Rusins preserved a living Orthodox tradition. The author concludes that some Conservatives advocated the unity (primarily spiritual) of the Rusins, Little Russians and Great Russians, regardless of their citizenship to a particular state, be it Russia or Austria-Hungary. Obviously, the cornerstone in their reasoning was the idea of a once unified Russian people that existed in the days of Old Rus, but due to various circumstances but due to various circumstances fell apart into separate conglomerations on the territory of different states. However, before the outbreak of the First World War, the conservative camp conveyed two positions in relation to the “Rusin question”: the active support of the Rusins from the moderate-right and nationalists and the more restrained position of the extreme right, who did not want to aggravate relations with Austria-Hungary. With the outbreak of the war, the extreme right also began to actively support the Rusin movement.