Die Rückkehr der Russophilen in die ukrainische Geschichte: neue Aspekte der ukrainischen Nationsbildung in Galizien, 1848-1914 / Rethinking russophilism: A new perspective on Ukrainian nationbuilding in Galicia, 1848-1914 / Le retour des russophiles dans l'histoire ukrainienne : Une nouvelle perspective de la formation nationale ukrainienne en Galicie, 1848-1914

The A. tries to re-assess the Russophile impact on processes of national and social mobilization within the Ukrainian society in Galicia from mid-19th century until the eve of the Great War, relying on comprehensive documentary material from Ukraine, Austria, and Russia which has not been used so far. He discusses the Russophile contribution to discourses about Ruthenian national identity and presents new data on the Russophiles' place within Ukrainian society and on their significance within the Ukrainian emancipation and popular enlightenment movements. He argues that Russophiles emerged from a conservative, monarchist branch of the Ruthenian movement which developed pro-Russian orientations during a complex process of gradual alienation from the Austrian state. At the same time, Russophiles attempted to formulate new, genuine Eastern-Slavic concepts of a national-cultural revival that were, albeit a reaction to Polish domination in Galicia, more influenced by German and Polish Kulturnation concepts than by Russian models. Tsarist Russia remained a terra incognita for most Russophiles and served rather as a diffuse conservative Utopia; direct contacts of Russophiles with Russia mostly produced disappointing experiences. After discussing the reaction of the Austrian State to the Russophile movement and the relations between the Russophiles and the Russian Empire, the A. concludes that Russian influence was over-estimated not only by the Austrian authorities, but also by historians. She pleads for a revised, integrated view on the Ukrainian nationbuilding in Galicia that perceives Russophilism as a genuine Ukrainian - not imported - concept that was of great significance during a distinctive period of Ukrainian history.