ROMAN BRZESKI’S VIEWS ON POLITICS UKRAINIAN CENTRAL RADA

Abstract

This article reveals Roman Brzeski’s views on the policy of the Ukrainian Central Rada, the analysis of the factors, that led to the defeat of the Central Rada, was conducted both by key figures of this government and Brzeski himself, their opposition and comparison. The article reveals the historiography of the study of the Central Rada by Ukrainian historians and the evolution of their views. Separately, historical assessments are compared with Roman Brzeski’s assessments, conclusions are made about the relevance of Roman Brzeski’s assessments as a participant in the events of the Ukrainian revolution in the context of modern historical visions. At the same time, an attempt is made to investigate the nature of Roman Brzeski’s views on the Central Rada as a political phenomenon, to explore the reason for Brzeski’s radically negative assessments of the Central Rada and its activists due to Brzeski’s affiliation with the UNP (“samostiynyky”). The UNP was in opposition to the socialist-federalist camp that formed the basis of the UCR. Therefore, it is interesting that Brzeski was in the service of the Central Rada despite his own negative beliefs. It is also important to involve little-known sources of personal origin of Brzeski’s authorship in a wide scientific circulation to study the problems of the Ukrainian Central Rada from the point of view of a witness to the events of that time. The study of personalities such as Brzeski and his visions belongs to the field of historical anthropology, which allows us to reveal local events and look at historical processes not only through thought leaders but also smaller figures who often had no less important influence on historical events. Brzeski is an example of such historical figures and that is why the study of his creative heritage is valuable today.