Political Influence in Municipal Self-Governments of the Kielce Province in the Years 1918–1939

Abstract

The configuration of political forces in self-government bodies of cities allocated and not-allocated from district council associations (self-government) was influenced by the political situation, as well as ethnic issues related to the populous Jewish minority inhabiting the cities of the Kielce Province in the years 1918–1939. Poles feared dominance of city councils by representatives of the Jewish community, therefore they often forged political alliances that were united by the nationality factor rather than the political agenda. The large scope of competences of municipal self-governments with the simultaneous lack of resources at the municipal level was the reason for the radicalization of society, which translated into political choices. One should also remember about political pressures and manipulations on the part of the state authorities after 1926, which had an impact on the distortion of the results of the local elections, especially from the perspective of the elections to the city council in 1934.