Tavshunskyy O. Belgium and colonial partition of Africa (1876-1918)

The object of the research: colonial partition of Africa and formation of colonial empires. The dissertation purpose consists in study of Belgium colonial politics, complex analysis of a phenomenon of the Congo Free State as "private colony", and also in statement of questions for the further research. Methods: logic, historical, problem-chronological, induction and deduction, historical-genetic, historical-comparative, historical-system, method of synchronization. Scientific novelty of the dissertation: it is first work in domestic historiography, where the participation of Belgium in partition of Central Africa is investigated complexly; in particular, the author for the first time considers questions of a Belgian Сongo history after 1908, that has enabled in a new way to estimate changes in Belgian colony. Practical value: received results, given facts, the offered hypotheses can be used by preparation of scientific works and educational literature, programs and special courses on a history of Belgium, Congo Democratic republic, international relations, colonialism as a whole. Sphere of use: higher educational institutions.