The thesis examines the peculiarities of language policy implementation in the Ukrainian SSR during the 1960’s and 1980’s in domestic and foreign historiography, reveals the influence of russification on the sociocultural life and identity of the population, and analyzes the legislative and regulatory framework that regulated the language issue.
The relevance of the topic of the thesis research is due to the rethinking of many historical facts of the past years in view of the specifics of the current stage of development of Ukraine. Thanks to open access to previously classified archival documents, the need for a more detailed and thorough study of the factors that contributed to the introduction of the Russian language into all spheres of Ukrainian
society has emerged.
The Soviet language policy of the 1960’s – 1980’s led to a change in the identity of the population of Ukraine, its hybridization or full assimilation, and significantly influenced modern ethno-national and linguistic processes. This policy was hidden in a series of unspoken instructions, the task of which was the mixing of nations, as well as the total russification of society. In addition, a number of normative acts only confirmed the intentions of the Communist Party leadership to russify Ukrainian society. The consequences of this policy are still felt today.
The study of russification became one of the important objects of scientific research among historians in the 1990’s and early 2000’s. Scientists, applying a critical approach, rethought the Soviet language and national policy and gave their own assessment of the phenomenon. From this issue, some questions still remain open, especially regarding the influence of Russification on the national identity of the population of Soviet Ukraine in a regional section, as well as on the socio-cultural life of the society and the change in worldview orientations. Modern events have
actualized this topic, as the language issue was key in the justification of Russian aggression by Kremlin propagandists.
A detailed study of the language issue in the 1960’s – 1980’s in the sociocultural dimension is important for understanding the modern problems of Ukrainian unity. During this period, the formation of a new denationalized generation took place, which did not perceive Ukrainian identity and was aware of itself as a part of Soviet society or as Russians. This contributed to the marginalization of certain strata of the population. Today, it is important to understand these processes, to find cause-and-effect relationships with modernity, and to form the conceptual foundations of a balanced language policy.
Scientific novelty. The thesis is the first study in which, thanks to a complex interdisciplinary approach, an attempt was made to find out the trends of the population's identity change under the influence of the Soviet policy of russification in the 1960’s – 1980’s. A rethinking of the consequences of the language processes of the period of stagnation for modern Ukrainian state-building is presented.
As a result of the conducted research, for the first time: on the basis of an interdisciplinary approach, the relationship between the russification of society and the change of national identity or its hybridization is clarified; the role of the Russian language in the change of worldview and formation of propaganda materials in mass media was revealed; new studies of foreign scientists devoted to russification and assimilation were analyzed in detail, and the results of their works were introduced into the modern discourse on this issue.
Supplemented: available research results on the consequences of the Soviet language policy for the modern state formation of Ukraine; statements of domestic scientists regarding ways and methods of russification of society; scientific understanding of the ideological role of the Russian language in the processes of formation of a single community - the “Soviet people”, as well as the conclusions of scientists regarding the place of other languages in Soviet society.
Acquired further development: research of Soviet national policy and ethno-national relations in the second half of the 20th century; evaluation provisions regarding the position of the Ukrainian language in the Soviet realities of the period of stagnation; study of ethno-national and linguistic processes of the past, their development trends under the influence of the administrative-command management system; historical features of socio-cultural life under the rule of the Soviet authoritarian regime.
