The concept of “Svidomo” became widespread at the end of the eighties of the twentieth century, during the period of especially rapid development of national self-awareness (or, more simply, nationalism) among the indigenous population of the Union republics of the USSR. Gradually, and sometimes quite openly, Kazakhs, Moldovans, Lithuanians, Uzbeks, and even Belarusians and Ukrainians were encouraged to think that they were the true breadwinners of a vast country, most of which was inhabited by drinkers and lazy people. The fact that such "Svidomo Ukrainians" as a public phenomenon, and we will talk.
Nationalism in the Russian Empire
The essence of any nationalism fits into a simple phrase that the very fact of the birth of a representative of an ethnic group provides preferences, provided that it occurred on its territory. During the existence of the Russian Empire, mutual penetration of cultures and genotypes took place in it, but these processes were quite slow. Some national provinces possessed so broad autonomy rights that they managed to maintain almost complete mono-ethnicity (examples are Poland and Finland). Not a single nationality in the entire history of Russia that lived on its territory has lost its national characteristics, language and culture, while, for example, Britain - during the years of greatest power - destroyed a number of enslaved peoples. Nationalism in Russia was unpopular due to the centuries-old backwardness of most suburbs and the huge efforts made to cultivate them by the tsarist government. So what is Svidomo and where did the conscious representatives of the oppressed peoples come from?
Soviet Ukraine
After the creation of Soviet Ukraine, the same national policy was pursued on its territory as throughout the USSR. In Soviet times, the processes of ethnic homogenization went faster, despite the fact that all the conditions were created for the development of national identity. Marxist theory suggested the "flowering and rapprochement" of all peoples. At the local level, leading cadres were traditionally selected from the local population, the state languages of the republics were taught in schools without fail, and folk music was constantly broadcast on television and radio. Specialists and teachers were sent to help the industrially backward territories. In 1939, the area of Ukraine and its population increased significantly due to the western regions torn away from Poland.
Ukrainians in Poland
The Poles were the first to know what Svidomo is. They faced the problem of the struggle for national self-determination long before the Soviet authorities. These processes were accompanied by mutual conflicts and terror. The purpose of the Ukrainian underground was to liberate itself from Polish oppression, which consisted in the oppression of the language (Mova) and religious Orthodox rites. The national liberation movement acquired a fierce character in the pre-war period and reached its peak during the Second World War, capturing almost the entire post-war decade.
What does a typical Svidomo Ukrainian look like
It is time to explain to those who do not own the "mov", as translated "Svidomo." In Russian, this word means "conscious." This is expressed in different ways, including in the appearance, in which the most striking national signs should be revealed. The clothing style is emphasized by two main lines: European (usually a pair of jackets for both men and women) and Ukrainian (a cross-stitch shirt, an “embroidery”, in the pattern of which black and red colors are used). Representatives of the stronger sex adorn their faces with a mustache, the edges of which are lowered down and less often with a sedentary, that is, a long forelock. But this is not the main thing.
