LOCAL REVOLUTIONS IN CENTRAL-EUROPE, 1990 TO 1994 - MEMOIRS OF MAYORSAND COUNCILLORS FROM POLAND, SLOVAKIA, AND THE CZECH-REPUBLIC

The consequences of the introduction of municipal autonomy in Poland t he Czech Republic, and Slovakia are analyzed from the memoirs of 131 m ayors and councilors concerning their first electoral term during the period 1990 to 1994. The analysis focuses on the mechanisms of mobiliz ation and selection of a new local elite. Subsequently, the most frequ ent motive of the memoirs is discussed, namely, the want of local inte gration and tactics applied by local leaders to enhance integration. T he recovery of local roots and traditions is the most frequent way to reach this objective, but it appears to have two-sided consequences. O n the one hand, the fostering of local identity enhances communal inte gration and active citizenship. On the other hand if initiates a drive toward municipal fragmentation. Also, the situation of local minoriti es may worsen in the process. Thus, the study demonstrates some more g eneral phenomena coming from the assertion of local autonomy in Centra l Europe.