National Identity Formation under Statelessness: Experience of Ukraine in Soviet Times

Abstract

The issue of national identity is multifaceted, disputable and extremely important in modern society, being one of the factors that determine its vitality. This paper presents the look at the problem from pedagogical perspective. The authors aim to explore the peculiarities of the formation of Ukrainian national identity in native intelligentsia under Ukrainian statelessness in Soviet times using the life and activity of Yurii Stupak as an example. Yurii Stupak is a notable representative of Ukrainian intelligentsia, an educator, scholar, literary studies expert, art critic, local history researcher, the author of numerous works in history of education and ethno-pedagogy. The study uses qualitative methodology and is founded on the laws and categories of scientific research. The researchers applied modern research approaches (personality oriented, cultural, personified, interdisciplinary) and methods (general scientific analysis, comparison, generalization, systematization; textual analysis, elaboration of the source base and historiographical work on the selected problem; the method of retrospective analysis). The authors have established that formation of the personality of Yurii Stupak as a teacher and scholar was influenced by numerous socio-political, socio-economic, cultural-educational and personal factors. The authors prove the decisive impact of family education and learning from nationally conscious teachers at higher education institutions as well as self-education and will for constant personal and professional development on facilitating the continuity of the process of formation of Ukrainian national identity in the native intelligentsia during the investigated period. It is confirmed that national identity does not depend on the existence of sovereign statehood, but it stimulates its revival.