The Ukrainian Intelligentsia and Genocide: The Struggle for History, Language, and Culture in the 1920s and 1930s

This study examines the effects of the Holodomor on Ukrainian society during the 1920–1930s, focusing on the first group targeted in the genocide, the Ukrainian intelligentsia. It challenges Western perceptions of the famine and highlights the intentional nature of the famine as a tool of genocide, persecution, and prosecution.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 398 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2023
Publisher: Lexington Books

This study delves into the first group targeted in the genocide known as the Holodomor: the Ukrainian intelligentsia, often referred to as the "brain of the nation," as coined by Raphael Lemkin, the visionary who introduced the term "genocide" and established it as an international legal concept. The author of this study conducts a comprehensive examination of the profound and devastating impact of the Holodomor on Ukrainian society during the 1920s and 1930s. Members of the intelligentsia, who held both individual and professional responsibilities, bravely resisted the oppressive forces exerted upon them. However, over time, they were ultimately compelled to serve the Soviet regime. Tragically, the Ukrainian intelligentsia suffered a catastrophic loss, with the majority of its writers and a significant portion of its teachers being virtually eradicated. The remaining cadres found themselves in a dire situation, facing a stark choice: either submit to the Soviet regime or risk their very survival.

The author embarks on a meticulous analysis to unravel the intricate mechanisms behind this tragic process and explore the crucial role played by intellectuals, particularly teachers, in shaping, contesting, and inculcating history. Importantly, the author challenges prevailing Western perceptions of the all-Union famine, which were often attributed to ad hoc collectivization policies. Instead, the author reveals the intentional nature of the famine as a tool of genocide, persecution, and prosecution aimed at the nationally conscious Ukrainian intelligentsia, clergy, and grain growers. Through meticulous research and evidence, the author demonstrates the continuity between Stalinist and neo-Stalinist attempts to prevent the crystallization of the nation and undermine Ukraine's sovereignty from within.

This study serves as a powerful testament to the resilience and determination of the Ukrainian people in the face of unimaginable adversity. It sheds light on the ongoing struggle for justice and truth, as well as the critical importance of recognizing and confronting historical atrocities to prevent their recurrence. The Holodomor remains a haunting reminder of the human cost of political oppression and the urgent need for global solidarity in the fight against genocide and other forms of injustice.

Weight: 631g
Dimension: 230 x 153 x 24 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781498596800