The historical contribution of Ukrainian and Baltic (Lithuanian & Latvian) writers, philologists and translators to cultural and humanitarian relations’ development

Abstract

The article deals with cultural-historical unity between Ukrainian and Baltic writers, philologists and literary translators in the realm of promoting sociocultural relations between the historically cognate nations of Ukraine and the Baltic states (Lithuania & Latvia), particularly in the spheres of literature, philology and literary translation. The relevance of the research is determined by modern challenges of geopolitical, humanitarian and cultural character. Nowadays, the historical unity between our fraternal nations is under threat due to the neo-imperial encroachments of the common enemy. Under such conditions, strengthening cultural and humanitarian ties should promote developing promising and mutually beneficial relations between our nations. The purpose of the investigation is to describe common historical contribution made by Ukrainian and Baltic (Lithuanian & Latvian) writers, philologists and translators to the development of the cultural and humanitarian relations both in retrospect and at present. The methodology is based on the main scientific principles: historical-logical, historical-comparative, objectivity, comprehensiveness and complexity, employed in literary and cultural studies, including systemic, cultural-historical, comparative-historical and descriptive methods. The core provisions of the research are as follows: 1) the historical-linguistic and cultural-humanitarian links between the Baltic and Slavic (particularly Ukrainian) ethnic groups are characterized as positive and favourable; 2.) their development was especially intensified during the rise of national-democratic movements in the last quarter of the 19th century until the year 1917; 3) close relations between the Ukrainian and Baltic humanitarians, literati, public & cultural figures have been developing continuously throughout the entire history: both in the past historical era and at the present time; today they are taking place in the time and space of the Russian-Ukrainian war. In the course of the investigation, the historical background of the Baltic-Slavic lingual and cultural unity was established; the development and the current state of Baltic studies were characterized; the history of the Ukrainian-Latvian and Ukrainian-Lithuanian relations in the spheres of literature, philology and translation were described; data concerning the Ukrainian and Baltic writers, philologists and professional translators were provided. As a result, the following conclusions have been made: 1) the cultural and humanitarian unity between the Baltic and Ukrainian ethnic groups was especially reinforced at the crucial moments in their history – during World War II and in the period of russian occupation; 2) at the present stage of development the Baltic-Ukrainian cultural and hiumanitarian relations are supplied with novel ideas, giving rise to new trends in the fields of science, education, literature and culture.