Krasovskyy Y. The Ukrainian Post-Reform Peasantry: Socio-Psychological Dynamics (based on the Podillja Region materials).

The socio-psychological dynamics of Ukrainian peasantry of Podillya are in the focus of investigation in the current dissertation. Conclusive evidence is given that in the post-reform rural communities prevailed traditional ones and a Podolian peasant, being a part of a natural social unity, adopted rules of the social behavior from the previous generations. The author has analyzed the implementation of the 1861 Reform in the region and found that local peasantry with its own interpretation of the changes was able to have an influence on the governmental policy. The theses reveal peculiarities of the formation of peasant farm management in the conditions of market relations when peasants became independent owners. The Relations of peasants with representatives of the other classes are also the subject of study. The subject of self-organisation of rural communities are analyzed as well as the formation and functioning of local rural authorities, their interaction with the state structures and the meaning for peasantry. Realizing their rights, peasants got interested in self-government and refused to follow the dependent pattern of conduct.