Demianiuk Vladyslav

Wilhelm Habsburg`s contribution to the public diplomacy of Ukraine

Section: Ukraine and Austria: science, education, and culture in the modern information space

Abstract: The purpose of the article is to examine the specific features of soft power instruments in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy through the historical lens of the activities of Wilhelm von Habsburg (Vasyl Vyshyvanyi); to reveal the Archduke’s contribution to state-building processes in the early 20 th century and the formation of Ukraine’s international image. Methodology. The research is grounded in structural and historical approaches, as wellas the method of comparative analysis, which enables tracing the historical tradition of public diplomacy in Ukraine. An interdisciplinary approach is employed, interpreting Wilhelm von Habsburg’s activity in the early 20 th century through the conceptual framework of contemporary public diplomacy. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the activities of Wilhelm von Habsburg (Vasyl Vyshyvanyi) are analyzed through the lens of modern public diplomacy asan interdisciplinary phenomenon. His cultural, political, and civic engagement is explored as a factor contributing to the formation of a positive international perception of Ukraine. The study also highlights the significance of his figure in the context of transnational support for the Ukrainian national revival and the shaping of Ukraine’s international image within the European space. Conclusions. The study of soft power in the history of Ukrainian diplomacy through the prism of Wilhelm von Habsburg’s activity demonstrates that soft power as a tool of influence has deep historical rootsin Ukrainian diplomatic tradition. The Archduke played a significant role in shaping a positive international image of Ukraine during a critical period of its struggle for independence. His efforts contributed to the development of political culture, the strengthening of national identity, and the dissemination of the Ukrainian idea in the European context. The figure of Vasyl Vyshyvanyi exemplifies how personal dedication, moral conviction, and intellectual engagement canserve as effective instruments of foreign policy influence.

Keywords: public diplomacy, Wilhelm von Habsburg, soft power, Ukrainian war for independence

  Full-text PDF    https://doi.org/10.15407/bv2025.02.069     Citation

• Demianiuk Vladyslav (Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (Kyiv, Ukraine), [email protected]) ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0000-2800-4802

Cite:
Demianiuk Vladyslav (2025). Wilhelm Habsburg`s contribution to the public diplomacy of Ukraine. Bibliotechnyi visnyk, (2) 69-72. doi: https://doi.org/10.15407/bv2025.02.069

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