Language and Society
Linguistic background:
“Ruthenian” is the generic name for East Slavic dialects spoken on the territory of the former Austrian province of Galicia (today’s West Ukraine) and in Subcarpatian Ukraine, which formed a part of the Austria-Hungarian Empire. Even at present, it remains to be the official minority language in Ukraine.
The native language of the Ukrainians is Ukrainian, but Russian is also used in some parts of the country, mostly at the borders with Russia. Ethnologues sustain there are about 40 minority languages and dialects present in Ukraine.
Religious background:
Ukrainian national identity arises from personal self-determination shared with others on the basis of cultural, religious and ethnic traditions. Since the eighteenth century Western Ukrainians have been holding their common religious heritage – Roman Catholic Church.
Economic background:
For last several years, Austria has been one of the main investors in the Ukrainian economy. In late 2015, Austria ranked fifth among all countries in terms of investments in Ukraine ($2.7 bn or 5.5% of total investments).
Historical background:
The history of Austro-Ukrainian relations dates back to the 12th century. Ukrainians came to Vienna and central Austria in greater numbers towards the end of the 18th century. During the reign of Empress Maria Theresa and her son Joseph II, three areas populated by Ukrainians came to Austria: Galicia, the Bukovina and Transkarpathia.
Cultural background:
The ties linking Ukraine and Austria stretch back for centuries and encompass everything from politics and arts to cuisine and coffee shop culture. Throughout the nineteenth century the architectural styles Renaissance and Baroque came to Ukraine from the West – Habsburg Empire which has come to be viewed as somehow benign and beneficial. Lviv is still the biggest commercial, administrative and cultural center in terms of Austrian-Ukrainian relations.
Educational background:
The amount of Ukrainians enrolled at Austrian higher education institutions reach about 65% from the total of the students that study abroad. There are plenty of student exchange programs between Austria and Ukraine, such as JKU, OeAD, KROK, etc.
From the Past to the Present:
Despite all the knowledge gathered by crossing cultures researchers and explorers, the Ukrainian are still being taught that once you are born in their land, carrying your Ukrainian cultural identity within yourself through the rest of your life is a holy and irrevocable duty. But at the same time there has always been a number of people holding a much broader point of view in this country, who have developed their own ways of independent thinking and promoting their cultural identity to the country they are living in. In the country producing a large-scale emigration for hundreds of years Ukrainian expats do consider themselves a minority preserving their own cultural identity and sense of belonging. Living in Austria for more than 10 years, you are still recognized by many as a foreigner.