ON THE SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL FIELDS OF AMERICAN AND ORIENTAL STUDIES: ON THE OCCASION OF MAKAR TARAN’S 50TH ANNIVERSARY

DOI 10.17721/2521-1706.2024.18.11

Oleh Mashevskyi,

Dr. habil. (History), Professor,

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5251-2089,

Olga Sukhobokova,

Ph. D. (History), Associate Professor,

ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4140-3231,

Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, Kyiv, Ukraine 

Abstract. Prominent individuals are significant in modern scientific and educational progress, especially in innovative and extremely significant fields for Ukraine such as Oriental, American, and European Studies. Among such personalities is an Associate Professor of the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries, head of the «Ukrainian Association of American Studies», and one of the founders and deputy head of the editorial board of the specialized scientific journal, Makar Taran, who turned 50 in August 2024.

This article aims to highlight Makar Taran’s educational, scientific, and public activities in the context of the development of world history, Oriental and American Studies, and the history of international relations in Ukraine.

The scientific novelty of the article lies in the investigation of the contributions in the fields of education and science by a unique individual who has successfully combined activities in various directions of historical science.

The methodological foundation of the research is based on the methods of historical biography, problem-chronological, and analytical methods.

Conclusions. The foundation of Makar Taran’s successful educational and scientific career was a solid historical education combined with excellent proficiency in European languages (English, French) and an Eastern language (Chinese). Through his teaching work, Makar Taran has nurtured a generation of historians, Orientalists, and Americanists at the Faculty of History. The educational process took place within the development of educational programs in the Department of Modern and Contemporary History of Foreign Countries at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, particularly in «Oriental Studies» and «American and European Studies (with the advanced study of foreign languages)». Taran’s teaching work at the Diplomatic Academy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine contributed to the training of the current generation of Ukrainian diplomats.

The true scientific hub for the development of Ukrainian Sinology is the Center for the Study of Contemporary Chinese History, founded by Associate Professor Makar Taran in 2016 at the Faculty of History. With the sponsorship support of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ukraine, a modern multimedia classroom named «Chinese Dream» was opened at the Center.

In 2016, Makar Taran established the «Ukrainian Association of American Studies» to unite Ukrainian Americanists. Currently, he leads it. With the support of the Association one of the most prestigious Ukrainian historical journals, «American History and Politics», was launched in 2016 and continues to be published.

In the summer of 2022, Makar Taran volunteered for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine to defend our homeland from Russian aggression, rising from an ordinary soldier to a junior lieutenant.

Key words: Associate Professor Makar Taran, Oriental studies, history of China, US-China relations, American studies, US foreign policy, international relations.

Submitted: 12.08.2024

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