Peasantry of Right-Bank Ukraine in socio-ethnic relations at the beginning of the 20th century

The study aims to characterize the role of Ukrainian peasantry in ethno-social interactions in the Right-Bank Ukraine at the beginning of the 20th century, based on archival sources, scholarly literature, and periodical press. The methodological framework of this research employs principles of scientific inquiry, including historicism, analysis and synthesis, interdisciplinarity, as well as specifically historical methods such as historical-genetic, comparative, typological, systematic, and structural-analytical approaches. The analysis of periodical press involved the application of journalism research methods, including genre-specific, discourse analysis, and hermeneutic approaches. The scientific novelty of the work lies in its focus on the socio-ethnic interactions of the Ukrainian peasantry in the Right-Bank Ukraine at the beginning of the 20th century with representatives of other ethnic groups, a topic that has previously been examined in Ukrainian historiography mainly within the context of social conflicts. Conclusions: At the beginning of the 20th century, the peasantry of the Right-Bank Ukraine faced challenging conditions. Interactions with other ethnic groups were shaped by economic and social needs, as well as imposed stereotypes. The dominant role in societal relations in the Right Bank was held by Polish landlords, who controlled a significant part of economic resources, particularly land. Relations between Ukrainian peasants and Polish landlords were often strained due to economic inequality and the landlords' social superiority over the peasants. Jews held an important position in the social structure of the Right-Bank provinces, serving as estate lessees and intermediaries between Polish landowners and Ukrainian peasants, which generated social tensions. Conflicts between farmers and Jewish lessees were driven by both economic factors and the proliferation of stereotypes that fueled interethnic hostility. The situation was exacerbated by provocations from conservative-monarchist organizations, which exploited Ukrainian-Jewish tensions for their political agendas.