'Крымский проект' Еврейской автономии в восприятии либеральной общественности США (по материалам 'The New York Times')

Abstract

Introduction. “Crimea project” is unsuccessful attempts to create a Jewish national territorial autonomy on the territory of the Crimean Peninsula in 1920–1940s of the 20th century. The topic was poorly elaborated in historiography. In this regard, this topic frequently became the ground for historical myths and pseudo-scientific statements. The main aim of this paper is to analyse the “Crimea project” coverage in American media in 1920–1940s of the 20th century and to identify the patterns in topic presentations.

Methods. In this paper, we used such methods as analysis, synthesis, retrospective analysis, the historical genetic method, historical comparative, and the analysis of text. We selected The New York Times newspaper as the main source as it is one of the oldest, continuous and credible media reflecting liberal agenda.

Analysis. In the paper, we analyze articles devoted to “Crimea project” during 20–40s of the 20th century. This article examines about 30 articles devoted to the Jewish agrarization, the project of creating a Jewish national autonomy in Crimea, the anti-Semitism problem in the USSR. This publications are examined in the context of struggle between zionists and anti-zionists in the USA as well.

Results. Most articles focuse on the social aspect, namely agrarization. The political moments of “Crimea project” are addressed less frequently, mainly in the frame of the statements of Soviet officials on the possibility of creating a Jewish autonomy on the territory of the Steppe Ukraine and Northern Crimea. The paper pays attention to the authors’ little knowledge on the real situation and mistakes in its coverage.