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ANN LENCYK PAWLICZKO UKRAINE AND ITS DIASPORA How many Ukrainians are there in the world today? A new book recently published for the Shevchenko Scientific Society by the University of Toronto Press provides the answer to that question and more. Ukraine and Ukrainians Throughout the World, edited by Dr. Ann Lencyk Pawliczko, is the story of a newly-indepen- dent nation and the millions of Ukrainians whom cir cumstances scattered throughout the globe. Packed with up-to-date information on Ukrainian communities throughout the world, it is a story of a people struggling to preserve their identity despite decades of denatio nalization policies in the homeland and the forces of assimilation abroad. Twenty-eight authors, among them world-renowned scholars, contributed articles on Ukrainians in their communities, providing not only the number of Ukra inians, but also the history of their immigration; in tegration into the economic, political, professional and social life of the country of settlement; and information about Ukrainian communities and their religious, cultu ral, professional, social and political life. Also discussed are problems which Ukrainians face as an ethnic group, ties with Ukraine and Ukrainians in other countries; and recent significant events in the Ukrainian community. The book is not merely a demographic factbook; it has extensive chapters on the history of Ukraine, its culture and contemporary Ukraine. Also discussed are theories of assimilation, problems of ethnic group survival and the future of Ukrainians as an ethnic group. Given the complex nature of gathering population statistics on minorities, and the resulting undercount in many countries (especially in the former Soviet Union and Eastern European countries, which purposely de flated the number of Ukrainians to undermine their potential force as an ethnic group), it was not easy to arrive at a precise figure of the number of Ukrainians in the world today. However, by using estimates from var ious sources, including censuses, surveys, immigration statistics, and church and organizational records, we can provide approximate numbers of Ukrainians. At an estimated 58 million, Ukrainians constitute approximately one percent of the world’s population. According to the 1989 census, there were over 37 mil lion Ukrainians in Ukraine. It will be interesting to see if the next census — conducted by an independent Ukraine —will register a larger number of Ukrainians, not so much as a result of natural increase (Ukraine currently has a low birth rate and a high death rate), but because more people will feel freer to report their Ukrainian ancestry. In the diaspora, Ukrainians are found on every continent, from the largest communities of several mil lion in Russia, to the smallest settlements of a few fami lies in Africa and Asia. The largest number of Ukrainians outside the home land — 15 million — are found in countries that com prised the former Soviet Union, with some 8.5 million in Russia; 175,000 in the Baltic countries; and 6.2 million in the remaining former Republics. Eastern Europe is home to over 860,000 Ukrainians; the largest settlements are found in Poland, Romania, the Czech Republic and Slo vakia. There are smaller Ukrainian communities in Hun gary and Bulgaria. Western Europe is home to approxi mately 140,000 Ukrainians; the largest settlements are found in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, France, Great Britain, and Germany. In North America, there are approximately 2 million Ukrainians, though fewer than that identify their ances try as Ukrainian in census questionnaires. There are approximately 1.3 million Ukrainians in the United States counting those who identified themselves as Ruthen- ians. Canada is home to over one million Ukrainians. There are over 584,000 Ukrainians in South America; the largest settlements are found in Brazil (350,000) and Argentina (220,000). Smaller Ukrainian settelments are found in Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. More than 30,000 Ukrainians are found in Australia and New Zea land. Approximately 2 million Ukrainians live in the Mar itime Provinces of the former Soviet Far East. A small number of Ukrainians are found in Africa, Asia and the Middle East; the majority of them are there only tem porarily while on assignment of a business or military nature, or are pursuing their studies. Ukrainians organized have vibrant communities throughout the diaspora, preserving their ethnic identity and distinct culture. From Canada to Australia, one can make the same observation: Ukrainian communities thrive better in places where the people have access to their own Ukrainian church, organizations and Ukrain ian National Homes. Such communities are in a better position to forestall total assimilation and to ensure eth nic preservation. Communities that cater to the needs of the younger generation, especially those that establish youth organizations, are more attractive to second and third generation Ukrainians and help instill a sense of ethnic identity and an interest in the ancestral home land. Common concerns of Ukrainians as an ethnic group reverberate throughout the Ukrainian diaspora: the pre valence of mixed marriages; the decline of the Ukrainian language; the drop in membership in Ukrainian churches
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