Зародження польської соціал-демократії та українського радикалізму в Галичині

by John-Paul Himka

The linkages between nationalism and socialism and the nature of peasant and artisan politics in East Europe are the fundamental problems engaged by this study of socialism in nineteenth-century Galicia. Here, in imperial Austria's largest and easternmost crown land, Polish and Ukrainian socialists organized journeyman artisans and recently emancipated peasants into potent political forces. The origins of the socialist movements lay in democratic national movements formed in response to the introduction of the Austrian constitution. The movements crystallized into socialist political parties against the background of strained relations between the nationalities and the opening of Galicia's undeveloped economy to the industrial West.

Genres: Ukraine, Poland, History

328 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

About the author

American-Canadian historian and retired professor of history of the University of Alberta in Edmonton. Himka received his BA in Byzantine-Slavonic Studies and Ph.D. in History from University of Michigan in 1971 and 1977 respectively. The title of his Ph.D. dissertation was Polish and Ukrainian Socialism: Austria, 1867–1890. As a historian Himka was a Marxist in the 1970s–80s, but became influenced by postmodernism in the 1990s. In 2012 he defined his methodology in history as "eclectic".

Reviews

[Kerry · Rating 5 out of 5]

A readable, coherent, and logically argued book, Socialism in Galicia sheds light on this niche topic in a way that both encompasses a macro view of particular movements and ways of thinking and illustrates with examples of individuals who were pivotal figures within these movements. Himka shows how many factors came into play in this region's political development, including language, religion, class structure, and the need to establish identity.