Russian and Ukrainian Nationalism - Fabian Baumann | 2024 Episode 32

This episode of The IR thinker explores the intertwined histories of Russian and Ukrainian nationalism through Dr Fabian Baumann’s book Dynasty Divided: A Family History of Russian and Ukrainian Nationalism, which traces how members of the Shul’gin/Shul’hyn family adopted divergent national identities. The conversation uses this family lens to examine generational divides, the role of private associations and intellectual networks, concepts such as “nation as a category of practice” and “national indifference”, and what these insights mean for understanding nationalism in Ukraine and Russia today.Fabian BaumannDr Fabian Baumann is a historian of Eastern Europe specialising in the history of nationalism and empire in Russia, Ukraine and East Central Europe. His award winning book Dynasty Divided received the 2024 W. Bruce Lincoln Book Prize for its innovative argument that nineteenth century intellectuals often chose political positions before embracing specific national identities, challenging conventional assumptions about the ethnic roots of nationalism.Publications:Hiking boots and peasant shirts: National science, self-fashioning, and the Ukrainophile tradition of scholarly travelNationality as Choice of Path: Iakov Shul´gin, Dmitrii Pikhno, and the Russian-Ukrainian CrossroadsContent00:00 - Introduction to the Interview02:33 - Motivation for Researching Nationalism in Ukraine and Russia05:47 - Distinguishing Personal Convictions from Ideological Shifts under State Pressure or Exile09:08 - Historical Perspectives on Nationalism: Did People Understand it as We Do Today?11:24 - Sensitivity in Analysing Family Identities within Specific Geopolitical Contexts15:02 - A Family Perspective on Nationalism: A Unique Lens on Ukraine and Russia14:42 - Generational Divides in Nationalism within the Shul’gin/Shul’hyn Family21:09 - Family-Driven versus State-Driven Nationalism25:05 - Private Organisations and Societies of Ukrainian Nationalists27:41 - Intellectual Sources of Nationalist Thought31:16 - Role and Contribution of Women in the Nationalist Movement35:25 - Regional Identity vs. Imperial Loyalty: Lessons from the Shul’gin/Shul’hyn Family for Contemporary Ukraine39:22 - The Concept of “Nation as a Category of Practice”43:39 - Understanding “National Indifference”47:20 - Shifts in Personal Assumptions About Nationalism During Research50:30 - Reception of the Book in Ukraine and Russia Amidst the Ongoing Conflict53:08 - Key Challenges in Researching Nationalism Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.