BEYOND DOGMA: STRATEGIES OF ADAPTATION AND SCHOLARLY AUTONOMY IN SOVIET AGRARIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY OF RIGHT-BANK UKRAINE, 19TH – EARLY 20TH CENTURIES

This article explores the complex intellectual strategies of adaptation and the pursuit of scholarly autonomy employed by Soviet historians who researched land relations in Right-Bank Ukraine during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Contrary to the widespread perception that Soviet historiography was entirely subservient to the ideological imperatives of Marxism-Leninism, this work demonstrates how researchers navigated strict censorship and a repressive apparatus. It analyzes the approaches of prominent scholars such as I. Hurzhii, M. Leshchenko, and L. Melnyk, who, by combining class analysis with extensive use of archival sources, sought to avoid excessive ideologization and made significant contributions to the study of socio-economic processes in the region. The article also examines the works of other historians who operated within more rigid ideological frameworks, illustrating the multifaceted nature of Soviet scholarly discourse. Overall, the research highlights the challenges of balancing scholarly objectivity with ideological conformity that influenced the structure and content of Soviet historical works, proving that even under totalitarian conditions, the production of significant scholarly knowledge was possible.