Ivan Franko's views on the role of the national elite in the struggle for Ukrainian statehood

The article analyzes the social and political views of Ivan Franko and clarifies his attitude to the role of the national elite in the process of struggle for Ukrainian statehood. It is shown that he assigned a nationalistic function to the elite, considering it a force that should lead the masses of the people to the realization of the national ideal - an independent, cathedral Ukrainian state.