Panteleimon Kulish’s Novel “Commoners’ Council” in Context of ‘Postmodern’ Political Strategies

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The paper covers the pre-election technologies and means of agitation that have been practiced since the 17th century and were described by Panteleimon Kulish in his novel “Commoners’ Council” (“Chorna Rada”). It is noticeable that even in those distant times people, just like now, succeeded in manipulating public opinion and will, directing social movements and trends into the way required by particular leaders or groups, especially during the elections. For this purpose, they disdained neither populist promises nor discrediting their opponents or violently grabbing the attributes of power, etc. The novel depicts the events of 1663 when the waves of public unrest, to a great extent initiated by particular agitators, swept Ukraine, and the calls for a change of hetman were growing louder. It is remarkable that among the wide range of agitation means one may distinguish such recognizable ones as blocking the opponents’ ways, using the color emblems, slandering, cultivating discord and hostility, stoking social contradictions between villagers and cossacks, etc. The novel shows a devious tactic used by Ivan Briukhovetskyi, who demonstrates self-debasement, deceitfully diminishes his status, and shows pretended modesty, at the same time generously treating villagers and common residents in order to buy their votes. As a result, on cossacks’ council of 1663 known as ‘Chorna Rada’ the hetman mace was taken by extremely selfi sh and power-hungry Ivan Briukhovetskyi.