“MIKHAIL KACHKOVSKIY SOCIETY’S” ACTIVITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF XIX - THE BEGINNING OF XX CENTURY

The history of Rusyn cultural-educational institution of Russophile direction “Mikhail Kachkovskiy Society” which had the aim to disseminate literacy among peasants is considered. This society established some branches, economical societies, book shops, scholarship funds and etc. Cultural-educational “Mikhail Kachkovskiy Society” was founded in the second half of XIX century in the conditions of two basic political movements counteraction at the territory of Eastern Galicia - Ukrainophilia and Russophile, fighting for influence on existing reading rooms and for establishment of new. The role and place of “Mikhail Kachkovskiy Society” in Rusyn-Ukrainian national movement of the second half of XIX - the beginning of XX century are studied. The idea orientations of its basic actors are revealed, the struggle of organizations for influence on Galicia Rusyn is revealed, the interaction of heads of “Society” with Ukrainophilia, Russophile and Polish movement and also Austrian government at different stages of development are considered. The subject of analysis are the reasons influencing the decrease of popularity of “Mikhail Kachkovskiy Society” at the end of XIX - the beginning of XX century among Rusyn-Ukrainian population of Eastern Galicia.

national identity, Galicia, Austria-Hungary, Association named after M. Kachkovsky, Russophilia, Ukrainophilia