Information on the thesis

The  activity  of  Ukrainian  left  radical  movement  in  Poland  in  1919-1929s  is
analyzed in this dissertation. The main factors of influence such as radicalization of local
political opinion, activity of Polish communist groups and soviet structures are defined.
Significant  impact  was  made  by  the  ideology  of  borotbizm  that  defined  the  national-
communist character of Ukrainian left radical forces in Poland in the 1920s.
The stages of establishment of the left radical  movement in Western Ukraine are
defined, the appearance of the first communist groups is analyzed as well as the formation
of party system in the west territories in Ukraine. National and social content of the left
radical  forces  in  Western  Ukraine  is  shown.  These  contents  were  connected  with  each
other and depended on the region and its level of economic and industrial development.
The temporary increase in the number of workers in the ranks of the communist forces
was observed during the letdown of socio-economic conditions. Throughout the 1920s, the
Ukrainians were absolutely dominant in Communist forces.
The  role  and  place  of  “Selrob”  in  the  development  of  Ukrainian  left  radical
movement  is  described.  This  union  was  not  only  a  legal  “application”  to  CPWU.  The
organization aimed to conduct own activities,  but could not  make  significant resistance
due to the internal crisis that covered the newly created political force within a few months
after the formation. Despite all the obstacles “Selrob” became a popular political force and
it was proved by the results of elections in 1928.
The dissertation investigates and analyzes the relationship between CPWU, Soviet
and Polish communist structures. The intervention  of outside forces – KP(b)U, CPP and
the  Comintern  led  to  the  existence  of  several  control  centers,  ignoration  of  local
characteristics and control of the Western Ukrainian government. Consequently it led to
constant conflicts  and gradual decay  of the  communist  movement in Poland in the late
1920s. Ukrainian left radical movement in Poland in the 1920s had 2 centers and it caused
negative consequences for its development.
National  issues  played  an  important  role  in  the  program  and  activities  of  the
communist forces in Western Ukraine. Ukrainian left radical forces clearly demonstrated
their  position.  Gradually,  Western  communists  influenced  by  the  convolution  of
Ukrainization  in  early  1930s  and  the  beginning  of  political  repression  in  the  Soviet
Ukraine switched from the idea of unification of Western and Soviet Ukraine to the idea of
autonomy within Poland.
Main  directions  of  activity  of  CPWU  and  “Selrob”,  including  mastery  of  legal
structures and parliamentary activity were traced. In the 1920s the two main vectors of left
radicals  were:  mastering  of  Ukrainian  trade  unions  and  cultural  and  educational
partnerships (these  vectors were  aimed to expand the impact and legal platform  for the
promotion  and  implementation  of  the  program).  The  problems  raised  by  communist ambassadors in the parliament were analyzed in this work. Relations between communist
parties and organizations of Ukrainian national-democratic camp in Western Ukraine were
characterized. Penetration of left forces in the ranks of trade unions, cultural, educational,
sport  and  cooperative  institutions,  the  appearance  of  pro-legal  party  and  its  successful
participation in the election campaign in 1928 raised concerns among Ukrainian political
parties. As a result, in the 1920s two mutually opposing camps appeared among Ukrainian
politics on Polish-dependent territories.
Key words: Western Ukraine, left radical movement, national communism, CPEG,
CPWU, “Selrob”, 1920s, political parties.