Taran S. Political regionalism as a factor of destabilization of the Ukrainian society.

Dissertation is focused on the study of political regionalism in Ukraine and its influence on the modern political processes. Various approaches on research and methodological categorization of regionalism are presented. Also, features of the political regionalism in other countries with similar to Ukraine social and political conditions are researched. The specificity of the political regionalism in Ukraine as well as social and political divides going across a titular nationality are described. It is argued that until 2014 the basic mechanisms that prevent regionalism-related conflicts were: intermixing between the representatives of two basic regional groups, presence of elements of informal federalism, and patronage politics across group lines. The recommendations for regional policies are offered to moderate the regional divides and to stimulate the development of moderate parties and organizations that do not use regional differences for separatism and radicalism. The author emphasizes the necessity of realization of the efficient regional policy, which takes into account interests and values of different regional groups.