Yatsenko V. The Integration of Ukrainian Cossacks into the Social Structure of the Russian Empire in 18th century

The object of the dissertation is the Cossack estate of the Ukrainian autonomies: Hetmanate, Slobodian regiments and Zaporozhian Host. The purpose of the dissertation is to investigate the preconditions of Tsarist integration changes concerning Ukrainian autonomies of Left-bank Ukraine, Slobodian regiments and Zaporozhian Host into the social structure of the Russian empire, ways of their accomplishment in 18th century, the results of that policy. The methods used in the research are: historical-genetic, historical-comparative, and system-structural. The practical significance of the research is the following: the results having been obtained by the author can be used by future specialists studying 18th century Ukrainian political and social history. These results can be used by those who prepare university special and general courses in Ukrainian history. The dissertation is devoted to the integration process of Ukrainian Cossacks into the social structure of the Rus sian empire during 18th century.The author proves that the integration changes used to be the most important components of political incorporation of Ukrainian autonomies conducted by the Tsarist government in 18th ct. Such problems as the preconditions of Tsarist integration changes concerning Ukrainian autonomies, ways of their accomplishment in 18th century have been analyzed in the dissertation. The chronological stages of those processes in various Ukrainian regions, regional distinctions and lack of simultaneity of integration processes in Slobodian regiments, Hetmanate and Zaporozhian Host, the impact of Russian integration policy on the deterioration of the economical status of a common Ukrainian Cossack have been studied as well. Much attention has also been paid to the history of elaboration of different social models intended to integrate Ukrainian Cossacks into the social structure of the Russian empire at the end of 18th - the epoch of conclusive changes.