Автор зосереджується на особливостях передвиборної агітації та політтехнологій, описаних
у романі П. Куліша “Чорна рада”. Серед них – перегороджування вулиць і доріг, компрометація
противника, застосування емблематики, популістські обіцянки, насильницькі захоплення
атрибутів влади, запрошення спостерігачів із Москви тощо.
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 selfish and power-hungry Ivan Briukhovetskyi.
