State Building in Revolutionary Ukraine

'State Building in Revolutionary Ukraine tackles an issue present in all historical debates on the Ukrainian revolution, but which has never before been researched in a comprehensive scholarly fashion-how the administrations of competing political regimes struggled for control over Ukrainian territory from 1917 to 1922. Stephen Velychenko's extensive archival research and careful evidence handling allow this book to mark a significant series of firsts: the first time a comparative perspective has been used for this topic, the first time old stereotypes about non-existence or utter incompetence of the local bureaucracy have been challenged, and the first time a wide range of non-partisan sources have been examined. A significant contribution to the literature on revolutionary state building in general, Velychenko's book will appeal to all those interested in how new states emerge from former imperial territories.' -- Andriy Zayarnyuk, Department of History, University of Winnipeg

Pointing out that Bolshevik administrations at the time were no more effective in implementing policies than their rivals, Velychenko argues that more effective governance was not one of the reasons for the Russian Bolshevik victory in Ukraine.

State Building in Revolutionary Ukraine examines six attempts to create governments on Ukrainian territories between 1917 and 1922. Focusing on how political leaders formed and staffed administrations, this study shows that in Ukraine during this time, there was an available pool of able administrators sufficiently competent in Ukrainian to work as bureaucrats in the independent national governments. These people could sometimes implement policies, a significant accomplishment in light of the upheavals of the time.

Stephen Velychenko compares Ukrainian efforts to create an independent national government with the analogous successful efforts made in Russia, Poland, Ireland and Czechoslovakia. He questions the notion that Ukrainian attempts at national independence failed because its society was 'incomplete' and its leaders unable to organize an effective administration. Pointing out that Bolshevik administrations at the time were no more effective in implementing policies than their rivals, Velychenko argues that more effective governance was not one of the reasons for the Russian Bolshevik victory in Ukraine.