NLAO structure

Department of Social Theories

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The department of social theories was created at the Institute of Law of Odesa State University named after I. I. Mechnykov in May 1994 to provide comprehensive approach to educational problems, programs and scientific works, and for co-ordination of the process of studying law and social subjects.

The department was headed by Doctor of History, Professor Kormych L. I., a specialist with 25 years experience of work. She has historical and legal basic education, specializes in the problems of theory and history of state formation; she has published more than 140 research works on the subject, including 15 individual and collective monographs. Professor L. I. Kormych heads “The political and law problems of state creation” scientific school, within the framework of which post-graduate education functions; specialized scientific council for the defence of the Candidate of law theses fruitfully works. The department has been recognized as a center of research work on these problems in this country and abroad.

At that time the department was formed by highly professional specialists from corresponding branches of social sciences, who had not only high level of professional knowledge, but also a great experience in research work. They are the historians – Candidate of History, assistant-professor A. I. Sushko and Candidate of History, assistant-professor P. A. Valigursky; economists – Candidate of Economy, assistant-professor V. V. Gaversky and Candidate of Economy, assistant-professor V. N. Shtutsa. The philosophic and the social aspects were led by Candidate of Philosophy, assistant-professor A. I. Nekrasov, the connection with general law science was provided by Candidate of Law, assistant-professor Y. M. Oborotov.

Тhe unification of all social sciences within one department allowed initiating comparativistics (comparative methods) into the educational and research methods.The department elaborated and introduced new educational courses into the educational process, which reflected the peculiarities of teaching social disciplines to law students, allowed to break the stereotypes and old models of educational programs, opened the way to creative work of teachers, aroused the interest of students to mastering special and general courses.

The staff of the department created new educational and special courses: theory of politics, development of Ukrainian constitucionalism, political and legal aspects of emigration, political and legal aspects of Ukrainian external relations (Prophessor L. I. Kopmych); philosophy of law, professional ethics of officials; modern legal systems, party pluralism in Ukraine, political and legal aspects of the economical programs of political parties (assistant-professor P. A. Valigurskyi), civilization and culture, culture and religion (assistant-professor A. I. Sushko). Professor L. I. Kormych, assistant-professor A. I. Sushko, A. I. Nekrasov, M. A. Polevoy, created new courses for training Masters of Law where they took into consideration modern educational patterns.

Traditional courses such as: history of Ukraine, politology, sociology, acquired new emphasis at legal and political consequences of actions and decisions. The research works such as „The history of Ukraine from early time to the XIX century“ by L.I. Kormych and V.W. Bagatsky; „The creation of party system in modern Ukraine“ by L.I.Kormyck, D.S.Shelest and O.I.Baby; „Political and legal principles of etnocreation of the Ukrainian state“ by D.S.Shelest, N.M.Yurchenko were published following those demands.

The above said intensified the interest of students and masters to leaning of the group of social sciences, which told not only upon the quality of students’ education, but also upon their participation in scientific competitions and conferences, upon choosing of themes for diploma works and growing competition for the post-graduate education at the department.

In 1997 there were some changes in teacher composition of this department. Some new members came to work here, such as Professor D. S. Shelest, Candidate of History, assistant professor V. V. Bagatsky. M. A. Polyevoy became a member of the department following the defence of the Candidate of Law dissertation. Doctors of Philosophy, professors, E. A. Gansova, M. P. Lukashevich, Candidates of History, assistant-professors A. I. Kormych, L. V. Petryshyna work at the department pluralistically.

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