Subcarpathian Rus in the context of cultural plurality of the first Czechoslovak republic

Abstract

Subcarpathian Rus was integrated into the First Czechoslovak Republic as a result of the Treaty of Saint-Germain-en-Laye (1919). The next year Subcarpatian Rus being a part of Czechoslovakia was declared a self-government autonomy with a certain number of democratic rights established by the Constitution. Among them was a right to use the national language. Codification of the Subcarpatian- Ruthenian language has not yet been completed and it is highly debated problem among contemporary linguistics. After the World War I Subcarpathian lands with Ruthenian population was a poor farming region with low level of ethnic self-awareness. Global economic and politic processes changed the situation dramatically and pushed educated part of Subcarpatian Rus citizens into the discussion about national language, culture and literature. The President of Czechoslovakia T. G. Masaryk participated in the discussion and was highly interested in cultural development of the region. He had his geo-political goals as to prevent ‘red aggression’ spreading and to establish a clear boarder with RSFSR. The Czechoslovak President’s cultural policy towards Subcarpatian Rus as not yet been analyzed or described. The study will examine the strategy of the Czechoslovak government and its role in informing Ruthenian national identity. Refs 38.