Politické spolky v Prešporku v období Rakúsko-Uhorska
Political Associations at Pressburg in Austria-Hungary

Summary/Abstract: The formation and activity of associations in Austria-Hungary was a result of the modernization and creation of civil society. The present study deals with political associations or clubs in Pressburg during the age of Dualism. The aim of the study is to find out how the structure of local politics was formed in terms of membership in the political club, and what strategies were used by the local political elites in Pressburg to gain greater social prestige. My goal is also to characterize the political behaviour of the representatives and to analyse the contemporary discourse in the local press. My aim is to find out how the activities of the Pressburg political elites were perceived in the German-language newspapers. Based on my findings, it can be said that support for the Liberal Party prevailed among the voters in Pressburg during Dualism, even after the constitutional crisis of 1905, when the party lost its government position in Hungary. The strategies by which the representatives of political associations strengthened their position were charity, personal ties, candidate lists, agitation, corruption, and criticism of rival candidates in the press. The newspapers pointed out incompetence, the absence of members of the municipal committee at general meetings, as well as the postponement of important decisions. This criticism of local political practice is evidence of gradual democratization, which could be followed by the first Czechoslovak Republic after 1918.

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