"... csak az ügy imádása." : Ruszka Krajna emigráns kormányzótanácsának története, 1918-1921 = “... Nothing but Devotion to the Cause.” : The History of the Ruska Kraina Emigrant Governing Council, 1918–1921

Szakál, Imre and Fedinec, Csilla (2026) "... csak az ügy imádása." : Ruszka Krajna emigráns kormányzótanácsának története, 1918-1921 = “... Nothing but Devotion to the Cause.” : The History of the Ruska Kraina Emigrant Governing Council, 1918–1921. FÓRUM TÁRSADALOMTUDOMÁNYI SZEMLE, 28 (3). pp. 81-96. ISSN 1335-4361

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Abstract

This study examines the formation, activities and historical context of the Ruska Kraina Emigrant Governing Council (1918–1921). This council was established by Rusyn political leaders in the aftermath of the collapse of Austria-Hungary and the subsequent political upheavals in Central Europe after World War I. The research traces the roots of Rusyn national identity within the multinational context of the Habsburg Empire and the socio-political transformations that shaped the region. Following the disintegration of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and the spread of nation-state ideologies, the creation of new states such as Czechoslovakia meant that the Rusyn question became a prominent political issue. In Hungary, the Károlyi government attempted to manage the Rusyn population by establishing Ruska Kraina as a separate administrative unit. However, its future remained uncertain due to international and domestic instability. Amidst territorial losses and the Treaty of Trianon, many Rusyn officials were forced to make difficult choices. Augustin Stefan, the former governor of Ruska Kraina, emigrated to Poland where he established the Ruska Kraina Emigrant Governing Council with a small circle of supporters. Driven by loyalty to the Hungarian state and fear of reprisals in post-war Hungary, Stefan and his associates sought to safeguard Rusyn interests, maintain administrative continuity and explore potential military action to regain control of the region. The Council coordinated with Hungarian diplomatic and military authorities, conducted propaganda campaigns targeting domestic and international audiences, and attempted to organize paramilitary operations in collaboration with Polish allies. Stefan’s political orientation reflected a strong loyalty to Hungarian culture and a belief that Rusyn advancement required adaptation to Hungarian societal and political frameworks. Despite detailed planning, most of the Council’s military schemes remained unrealized due to constraints imposed by international politics, logistical limitations, and the evolving post-war landscape. This study concludes that the Ruska Kraina Emigrant Governing Council exemplifies the intricate relationship between nationalism, minority politics, and exile activities in interwar Central Europe. Augustin Stefan’s dedication to the cause, which he summarizes as being driven by “nothing but devotion to the cause,” exemplifies the personal and ideological motivations that shape Rusyn political activism within the diaspora.

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