Abstract

Polish Conservatives and Reform of the Electoral Law of Galicia at the Beginning of XXth Century

Summary

The democratization of the political system of the Austro-Hungary at the
turn of XIXth and XXth century accelerated the process of political changes. In
these circumstances Polish conservatives were seriously bothered about the
possibility of weakening not only the influence of the great land owners on
the political life of Galicia but also diminishing of their role in shaping „Polish
policy” in the whole monarchy. Moreover they were anxious about loosing
the position of the party in the political life. Nevertheless the Cracow
conservatives (so called „Stańczycy”) admitted the need for democratization of
the political institutions and the necessity of concessions from the side of the
hitherto governing elite. At the same time they wanted to shape the planned
reform of the legislation regarding election to the State Parliament of Galicia
(in Polish Sejm Krajowy Galicji) in a way that it ensured the political
influence, and as a consequence the protection of interests, to the land owners
and other rich social groups. The conservatives also aimed at the protection of
Polish interests in a multinational Galicia. They wanted to ensure to Polish
inhabitants a strong representation in the State Parliament as well as to
guarantee election interests to the Polish minority in the Eastern part of the
country, where the majority was composed of the Ukrainians. They also
anticipated the smoothing and gradual solving of conflicts of nationalist
nature in the country. Therefore they were ready for concessions towards the
Ukrainian national demands.

Dissimilarly, the conservatives of the Eastern Galicia (so called „podolacy”)
did not want the democratization of the political system. They tried to
prevent the mass political movements from strengthening. They were against
broadening the representation of the Ukrainians in the State Parliament.
These disparities led to a crisis between the two groups of the Polish
conservatives at the beginning of the XXth century. The policy of the latter
group did not have perspectives therefore they had to reconcile themselves
with the principles of the reform prepared during the period maybe „when
a Cracow conservative Michał Bobrzyński was the deputy of Galicia”.