Philosophy of culture, economic strategy and international relations during the formation of Ukrainian Statehood in the period 1917–1921

Abstract

Less than a year remains until the 110th anniversary of the beginning of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917, which marked the start of the liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people for the right to live in their own state and to pursue an independent life. The development of the Ukrainian state is a primary task for all members of society, where each individual, as well as society as a whole, contributes-according to their abilities-to the common interests and values of their country. Almost every hundred years, our nation faces a severe test of the strength and durability of the foundations of Ukrainian statehood. Historical scholarship considers its main task to be the comprehensive study and accurate reconstruction of events from any period of the Ukrainian people's struggle for their own state and independence, emphasizing that these were not isolated occurrences but purposeful actions of past and present generations aimed at achieving a united and independent Ukraine. State-building processes in modern society are gaining increasing importance and attracting the attention of researchers. Of particular significance for study and analysis is the beginning of the 20th century, when Ukrainian statehood emerged and existed for some time within the former Ukrainian provinces of the collapsing Russian Empire. During the period of 1917–1921, three key stages in the development of Ukrainian statehood can be distinguished: the era of the Central Rada, the Ukrainian State of Hetman P. Skoropadskyi, and the Directory of the Ukrainian People's Republic. Throughout the formation and development of these three periods, crucial and decisive changes occurred in cultural and educational life, in the economic sphere (including the establishment of private property), and in international relations (such as the signing of treaties and the establishment of diplomatic missions). This powerful drive and aspiration of the Ukrainian people toward their own statehood convincingly demonstrate not only their physical resilience but also their significant intellectual, spiritual, and cultural potential, their desire to live independently, and their European choice.