Slobozhan I. Socio-economic life of ethnic minorities in the Volhynian Governorate in the “long” 19th century.

The dissertation presents the results of research into the socio-economic aspects of the life and development of ethnic minorities in the Volhynian Governorate under the Russian Empire between 1793 and 1917. The aim of the research is to provide a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic life of ethnic minorities in the Volhynian Governorate during the “long” 19th century, to identify the characteristics of their economic activities, social structure, and models of economic behavior under the imperial policy of the Russian Empire, as well as to determine their role in the processes of modernization of the region, interethnic interactions, and transformations of traditional society. The value of the study lies in the fact that analyzing the history of the Volhynian Governorate as a traditionally multi-ethnic space at the local level makes it possible to identify its specific features in comparison with other regions and to trace how imperial trends in national policy were reflected at the regional level, within which various models of interaction with ethnic minorities were tested. The experience of the Volyn province convincingly proves that multi-ethnicity in itself does not pose a threat to the stable development of society, but becomes problematic in conditions of discriminatory and repressive state policy. The history of the region also demonstrates that politicized nationalism, especially in times of crisis, can destroy established economic models and undermine the integrity of state formations. These conclusions are particularly relevant for modern Ukraine in the context of military challenges and future post-war reconstruction. The scientific novelty of the dissertation lies in a comprehensive analysis of the socio-economic life of ethnic minorities in the Volhynian Governorate in the “long” 19th century, the introduction of new sources into scientific circulation, and the development of a unique typology of interethnic interactions. Approaches to studying the role of Polish, Jewish, German, and Czech communities in the economic development of the region have been improved, and the material consequences of imperial ethnic policy have been demonstrated. Research on the relationship between the economic practices of ethnic minorities and imperial policy has been further developed, revealing the multi-ethnic and multi-structural nature of Volyn's economy and identifying new aspects of adaptation strategies in times of crisis.