Bohdan Tsymbal (Sustaining Ukrainian Scholarship Fellowship, Mar – Jul ‘26) will present his research on:

Mykhailo Drahomanov Between Utopian Socialism and Nationalism: Political Thought and Transnational Cultural Networks in the 19th century Ukraine 

11 June 2026 (Thursday), 16:30 

Moderated by Yaroslav Zatyliuk

Abstract: The proposed project is situated within the broad framework of Ukrainian intellectual history in the second half of the 19th century. This was a period when Ukrainian lands were divided between two empires – the Austro-Hungarian and the Russian. The imperial situation profoundly influenced the political and cultural dynamics of Ukrainian intellectual life. It shaped competing ideological currents. These currents sought social and national emancipation. Two dominant vectors defined this intellectual landscape. One was socialism, advocating for social equality. The other was nationalism, striving for cultural and political self-determination. At the heart of these ideological developments was Mykhailo Drahomanov. His work and influence remain crucial for understanding the unique trajectory of the Ukrainian socialist movement. Drahomanov played a key role in articulating a vision of socialism. He adapted it to the realities of Ukraine’s stateless condition. He also adapted it to Ukraine’s struggle against imperial oppression. His intellectual legacy provides essential insights into the broader debates over the intersections of socialism and nationalism in the Ukrainian context.