Stepankov V. Political elite of Ukraine: processes of formation, sphere of activity, intragroup relations, political views (1648-1676).

The thesis research is devoted to figuring out the actual problem of the National Revolution of 1648-1676 y., namely the transformation of the Cossack elite into a political one. The study of the given process allowed us to reveal its genesis, peculiarities and to develop the periodization, to determinate the characteristic aspects and to define the content of political activity of the Corporate Elite and to determine the social base of its recreating, the degree of consolidation and relations of groups, political views of the members of elitist consciousness. It is established that by the end of the twentieth century, the Cossack elders (with a few exceptions) were not considered to be the political elite. Only since the 90s the study of its formation and its role in the time of the revolution was begun. Despite the existing achievements, a number of issues that require special study still remain. The elaborated source base and the used methodological tools made it possible to achieve the set goal and to fulfill the formulated tasks.