How Did Polish and Ukrainian Attitudes Toward the Russian Empire Differ in the 19th Century?
Between Resistance and Survival: Polish and Ukrainian Strategies in the Shadow of the Tsarist Regime.
The history of Polish and Ukrainian interactions with the Russian Empire is a vast and fascinating subject. Within it, one can find examples of both resistance to and collaboration with the Tsarist regime—though the two nations differed significantly in their motivations and strategies.
Poland, with its strong statehood tradition, held a deep sense of national identity and the desire for independence. The November Uprising (1830–1831) and the January Uprising (1863–1864) became enduring symbols of sacrificial struggle against Russian oppression, uniting the nobility, bourgeoisie, intelligentsia, and at times even the peasantry.
For Ukrainians, however, the issue of independence was not clearly articulated during that period. Under the Russian Empire, Ukrainians mainly fought to preserve their culture and language, which were under threat due to aggressive Russification policies. The Ukrainian intellectual elite was only just beginning to develop and express national ideas.
These historical contexts profoundly shaped the development of both nations throughout the 20th century. What lessons can we draw from these experiences today?
Discussed by:
- Dr. Łukasz Adamski, Deputy Director of the Mieroszewski Centre
- Dr. Yurii Zemski, Professor at Khmelnytskyi National University.
This was the fourth episode in a series exploring the history of Polish-Ukrainian relations. The project is carried out in cooperation with the Ukrainian history channel “Realna Istorija.”