Activity of authorized persons and executors of the Holodomor genocide of 1932–1933: methodological aspect

Abstract

Introduction. Complex analysis of statization of society by the communist totalitarian regime, monopolization of power by
a single mass party, its splicing with state apparatus, functioning of branched repressive apparatus are key aspects of study of the
outlined issues.
Unfortunately, historians do not suffi ciently study the methodology related to the genocide of Ukrainians, limiting themselves to
the analysis of general and special methods of scientifi c research within articles, qualifi cation works or monographs.
The purpose of the research is to analyze and synthesize key directions (approaches) in the methodology for systematic study
of the 1930s reality, especially functioning of the institute of authorized people and executors of the 1932–1933 Holodomor Genocide
(circumstances of its creation, structuring, functioning, consequences of its activity).
Methodology is based on the interdisciplinary approach and systematic principle. Principle of historicism was used for
correlation of different studies of communist totalitarian regime (of total control of the state over all social spheres, destruction
of sovereignty of personality, creating of specifi c “referent groups”, institute of authorized people and executors) with new
methodological approaches. Along with general methods (analysis, synthesis, deduction, generalization), the author used special
ones, such as historical comparative, systematic, and historical typological.
Originality of the article is the conceptualization of methodological approaches to the topic of authorized people and executors’
actions.
Conclusions. As a result, six methodological approaches were studied and there of them (socio-cultural, anthropo-sociocultural, and synergetic) were specifi ed. They allow complex study of creation, functioning, and consequences of institute of
authorized people and executors’ activity. Also, it was proven that the methods and scientifi c defi nitions of history of everyday life and anthropologically oriented history (anthropological history) are the most suitable for systematic study of the topic.