Chłopomania

The political situation of the region led many intellectuals (Poles and Ukrainians) to believe that the only alternative to decadence is getting back to the folk roots: moving out of large cities and mixing with "simple men".

Focusing on chłopomania within Polish culture, Romanian literary historian Constantin Geambaşu argues: "Initially, the Cracovian bohemians' interest in the village followed purely artistic goals.

Preoccupied with the idea of national freedom, the democratic Polish intellectuals were made aware of the necessity to attract and enlist the peasantry's potential in view of [Poland's] independence movement.

"[2] Similarly, Canadian researcher John-Paul Himka describes the Ukrainian chłopomani as "primarily Poles of Right Bank Ukraine", noting that their contribution was in line with a tradition of "Ukrainophile" cooperation against the Russians and the Russophiles.

[4] In reference to the cultural crossover between the two ethnic versions of chłopomania, French historian Daniel Beauvois noted that "in certain numbers", chłopomani from within the Polish gentry contributed to "reinforcing the Ukrainian movement".

Literary historian John Neubauer described it as part of late 19th century "populist strains" in the literature of East-Central Europe, in close connection to the agrarianist Głos magazine (published in Congress Poland) and with the ideas of Estonian cultural activists Jaan Tõnisson and Villem Reiman.