Lev Dobriansky
Encyclopedia
Lev E. Dobriansky, Ph.D. (November 9, 1918 – January 30, 2008) was a professor of economics at Georgetown University
, U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and anti-communist advocate. He is known for his work with the National Captive Nations Committee
and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
, and served as the chairman of the latter.
, the son of Ukrainian
immigrants. He received an undergraduate degree in 1941 and a master's degree in 1943 from New York University
, where he was an instructor of economics
throughout the 1940s. He received his doctorate from NYU in 1951. His dissertation was a critique of the economist Thorstein Veblen
.
He taught economics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
from 1948 until his retirement in 1987. During his tenure there, he became a Professor Emeritus and taught such classes as "Soviet Economics." Among his students was Kateryna Yushchenko (née Chumachenko), the future First Lady
of Ukraine
. In 1970, he founded and directed the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown.
He was also a faculty member at the National War College
in 1957-1958, and served as a consultant for the United States Department of State
, the International Communication Agency, and the United States House of Representatives
.
(1975-1976).
On October 25, 1982, Dobriansky was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
as Ambassador to the Bahamas, succeed the previous ambassador, William B. Schwartz. Dobriansky remained on this post until August 30, 1986.
, which was adopted by the United States Congress
and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
in July 1959. As a result of his activism, this resolution has been proclaimed every year by each successive president. He also founded and chaired for many years the related National Captive Nations Committee, which advocated for the nations memorialized in the resolution.
In 1993, Congress authorized the NCNC to begin raising funds to build a Victims of Communism Memorial
. To this end, Dobriansky helped create the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, along with such conservative notables as Lee Edwards
, Grover Norquist
, and Zbigniew Brzezinski
. He served as the Foundation's first chairman. After many years of fundraising and advocacy, the Memorial was finally completed on June 12, 2007, less than a year before Dobriansky's death.
Dobriansky also played a role in the construction of another Washington, D.C. monument - a statue of Taras Shevchenko
, the Ukrainian nationalist and artist.
Dobriansky was, in the course of his life, also involved in the Ukrainian National Information Service, the American Council for World Freedom, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
, and the United States Council for World freedom. His death on January 30, 2008 was mourned by many across the globe, including Viktor Yushchenko
, the president of Ukraine.
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas and anti-communist advocate. He is known for his work with the National Captive Nations Committee
National Captive Nations Committee
The National Captive Nations Committee is an anti-Communism advocacy group based in Washington, D.C.. It was established in 1959 according to by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, which introduced the Captive Nations Week, with the purpose to maintain the Captive Nations List...
and the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation is a non-profit educational organization in the United States, established as a result of an Act of Congress in 1993 with the purpose to commemorate "the deaths of over 100,000,000 victims in an unprecedented imperial communist holocaust"...
, and served as the chairman of the latter.
Life and education
Dobriansky was born on November 9, 1918 in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the son of Ukrainian
Ukrainians
Ukrainians are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is the sixth-largest nation in Europe. The Constitution of Ukraine applies the term 'Ukrainians' to all its citizens...
immigrants. He received an undergraduate degree in 1941 and a master's degree in 1943 from New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
, where he was an instructor of economics
Economics
Economics is the social science that analyzes the production, distribution, and consumption of goods and services. The term economics comes from the Ancient Greek from + , hence "rules of the house"...
throughout the 1940s. He received his doctorate from NYU in 1951. His dissertation was a critique of the economist Thorstein Veblen
Thorstein Veblen
Thorstein Bunde Veblen, born Torsten Bunde Veblen was an American economist and sociologist, and a leader of the so-called institutional economics movement...
.
He taught economics at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
from 1948 until his retirement in 1987. During his tenure there, he became a Professor Emeritus and taught such classes as "Soviet Economics." Among his students was Kateryna Yushchenko (née Chumachenko), the future First Lady
First Lady
First Lady or First Gentlemanis the unofficial title used in some countries for the spouse of an elected head of state.It is not normally used to refer to the spouse or partner of a prime minister; the husband or wife of the British Prime Minister is usually informally referred to as prime...
of Ukraine
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
. In 1970, he founded and directed the Institute on Comparative Political and Economic Systems at Georgetown.
He was also a faculty member at the National War College
National War College
The National War College of the United States is a school in the National Defense University. It is housed in Roosevelt Hall on Fort Lesley J. McNair, Washington, D.C., the third-oldest Army post still active. It was officially established on July 1, 1946, as an upgraded replacement for the...
in 1957-1958, and served as a consultant for the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
, the International Communication Agency, and the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
.
Diplomatic service
Dobriansky briefly worked in an official capacity in ChileChile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
(1975-1976).
On October 25, 1982, Dobriansky was nominated by President Ronald Reagan
Ronald Reagan
Ronald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
as Ambassador to the Bahamas, succeed the previous ambassador, William B. Schwartz. Dobriansky remained on this post until August 30, 1986.
Anti-communist activism
Dobriansky wrote the Captive Nations Week ResolutionCaptive Nations Week
Captive Nations Week, a week aimed at raising public awareness of the oppression of nations under the control of Communist and other non-democratic governments, began in 1953 and was declared by a Congressional resolution and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1959. President...
, which was adopted by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
in July 1959. As a result of his activism, this resolution has been proclaimed every year by each successive president. He also founded and chaired for many years the related National Captive Nations Committee, which advocated for the nations memorialized in the resolution.
In 1993, Congress authorized the NCNC to begin raising funds to build a Victims of Communism Memorial
Victims of Communism Memorial
The Victims of Communism Memorial is a memorial in Washington, D.C. located at the intersection of Massachusetts and New Jersey Avenues and G Street, NW, two blocks from Union Station and within view of the U.S. Capitol...
. To this end, Dobriansky helped create the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, along with such conservative notables as Lee Edwards
Lee Edwards
Lee Edwards is a distinguished fellow in conservative thought at the B. Kenneth Simon Center for American Studies at The Heritage Foundation...
, Grover Norquist
Grover Norquist
Grover Glenn Norquist is an American lobbyist, conservative activist, and founder and president of Americans for Tax Reform...
, and Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Zbigniew Kazimierz Brzezinski is a Polish American political scientist, geostrategist, and statesman who served as United States National Security Advisor to President Jimmy Carter from 1977 to 1981....
. He served as the Foundation's first chairman. After many years of fundraising and advocacy, the Memorial was finally completed on June 12, 2007, less than a year before Dobriansky's death.
Dobriansky also played a role in the construction of another Washington, D.C. monument - a statue of Taras Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
, the Ukrainian nationalist and artist.
Dobriansky was, in the course of his life, also involved in the Ukrainian National Information Service, the American Council for World Freedom, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Ukrainian Congress Committee of America
Established in 1940, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Inc. today unites some 20 Ukrainian organizations and over 75 branches throughout the United States. A 37-person, elected, volunteer Board of Directors governs the UCCA in conjunction with a 73-member National Council made up of...
, and the United States Council for World freedom. His death on January 30, 2008 was mourned by many across the globe, including Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Yushchenko
Viktor Andriyovych Yushchenko is a former President of Ukraine. He took office on January 23, 2005, following a period of popular unrest known as the Orange Revolution...
, the president of Ukraine.