Rud’ko S. Social and Political Activities of Mykola Vasylenko.

The dissertation provides complex picture of the social and political activities of Mykola Vasylenko, in particular of his participation in political organizations and editorial work in the Kyiv-based oppositional press. The research is based on the analysis of archival materials, published sources, Ukrainian and foreign scholarly literature. The author focuses on the evolution of political views of Mykola Vasylenko and traces factors that influenced the development of his personality. Vasylenko’s education at the University of Derpt and later influence of the academic environment, to which the scholar belonged during the pre-revolutionary period, caused his decision to join the liberal-democratic political trend. To explain his choice it is also necessary to take into account personal features of Mykola Vasylenko, namely his inherent democratism and modesty. Also important were the scholarly interest of Mykola Vasylenko in the Ukrainian history and academic contacts related to it. In particular, Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s ideas about the independence of Ukrainian historical process had a profound impact on the development of the historical views of Vasylenko. The dissertation explores all main fields of Mykola Vasylenko’s activities during the time of the Ukrainian State of 1918. The period of Hetmanate was the peak of the political career of the scholar. During that time he hold very important position and often steered the political line of the Hetman. Mostly Vasylenko’s activities were concentrated on his work on the position of the Minister of popular education and arts. Due to his direct impact, the system of education became more democratic and its material base improved. For very short period of time some considerable changes were made in the spheres educational, cultural and academic development. As a politician and a scholar Mykola Vasylenko at that time preserved “double (Ukrainian-Russian) loyalty” which was revealed in his project of the renewal of united Russia (even after Ukrainian state emerged) but with more democratic and federal government.