CONFLICT MANAGEMENT IN THE MILIEU OF UKRAINIAN POST-WAR EMIGRATION: THE EXPERIENCE OF THE UKRAINIAN ART MOVEMENT (1945–1948)

Abstract

The history of Ukraine has got many examples of how different personalities were able to unite and direct their efforts in meaningful way for higher purpose. One of such interesting pages is an activity of Ukrainian Art movement (UAM) –unification of Ukrainian writers in emigration, who after the end of World War II turned up in camps for displaced persons in Germany and Austria. The leadership of union helped to create such climate in the organization that would maximize imaginative work and minimize confrontational points among its members. The peculiar quality check of the organization and its ability to withstand the devastating tendencies was a debate in UAM about relevant problems of searching for ways of development Ukrainian culture in emigration conditions. Its starting point was Y. Shevelov`s report «The styles of contemporary Ukrainian literature in emigration» (1945), which he pronounced at the First congress of organization. The reviewer proclaimed the mission of new organization - to create a nationwide and a sub-region writing, which can reach worldwide recognition. The main direction of its development Y. Shevelov determined the creation of deeply peculiar Ukrainian literary style. The idea of national-organic style has caused mixed reactions and criticism in the Ukrainian emigration environment. The national-organic style does not anticipate a forced imposition on his writers. This style does not mean an isolation of narrow national limits and departure from European influences and traditions. It includes only blind copying borrowed samples. Supplemented the concept of Y. Shevelov with his ideas such persons as I. Bagryany, Y. Kosach, I.Kosteckii and other representatives of UAM`s, who defended national origin in literature. The most irreconcilable opponent of Y. Shevelov and his theory of national-organic style became a literary scholar, critic, translator V. Derzhavin. There were several reasons for the conflict between these creative personalities among which, in particular, differences between generations, to which they belong. In the modern scientific literature one can come across for approval that a deepening conflict between Y. Shevelov and V. Derzhavin led to the split and termination of the organization activity. Such an estimate is untrue, because the real reason for the termination of the organization was hold at the 1948 a monetary reform in Germany and mass departure of Ukrainian emigrants from displaced persons camps to the other countries of the world. Well, conflicts, which took place in the history of Ukrainian Art Movement, did not lead to the division of the organization into hostile camps, as its members were united by the common purpose of creating new Ukrainian literature, that would take a worthy place in the world culture.