THE EVOLUTION OF CZECH-UKRAINIAN STEREOTYPES FROM THE XIX CENTURY TO THE PRESENT

Abstract

The article examines the cultural and scientific intersections of the Ukrainian and Czech peoples in the XIX–XX centuries, which appear as an important factor in the formation of a common Slavicidentity and intellectual bridges between Central and Eastern Europe. Particular attention is paid to theactivities of scientists, which is a symbol of scientific cooperation between the two peoples. The text tracesthe commonality of Slavic motifs, and also shows how Czech researchers acted as cultural ambassadors of Ukraine in the European context, popularizing its heritage and promoting dialogue between Ukrainian and Czech intellectual traditions. Historical-comparative and discourse analysis, as well as culturological approach, are applied. The source base consists of: works on pan-Slavic ideas of the XIX century; docu- ments and memoirs of Ukrainian emigration in Czechoslovakia; materials about the Prague Spring and the Soviet intervention of 1968; modern research by scientists from the Czech Republic and Ukraine. Themethodological basis. The material emphasizes the importance of Ukrainian-Czech relations as an exampleof intercultural solidarity that combines scientific activities, ethnographic studies and cultural diplomacy is devoted to the evolution of stereotypes in interethnic contacts: from romantic images of the “Slavic broth- erhood” in the XIX century, through ambivalent ideas of the XX century, to modern stereotypes oscillatingbetween cultural proximity and political tensions. Stereotypes are seen as dynamic cultural images that can be a resource for mutualunderstanding, but at the same time contain the risk of prejudice. The authors con-clude that the evolution of Czech-Ukrainian stereotypes since the XIX century. to the present day reflects the change in political contexts: from romantic images of the “Slavic brotherhood” in the XIX century, through ambivalent ideas in the XX century. (emigration, Soviet experience); social contacts (emigration, labor migration); cultural symbols (song, hard work, freedom), to modern stereotypes oscillating between culturalproximity and political tensions.