29 August 2024

BOOK: Martin LÖHNIG & Kamila STAUDIGL-CIECHOWIZ (Hrsg.), The Silesian Voivodeship. Analysis of a "legal interspace" [Schriften zur Rechtsgeschichte; 224] (Berlin: Duncker & Humblot, 2024), 154 p. ISBN 9783428591787, € 69,9

(image source: Duncker & Humblot)

Abstract:

After World War I, the reorganisation of Europe created many legal interspaces. This volume is intended to be a first step towards in-depth research into Upper Silesia as a legal interspace. The focus is on Upper Silesia as an autonomous region and the jurisdiction in the Silesian Voivodeship. Seven contributions by Polish and German scholars examine the question of autonomy from an interdisciplinary perspective - historical, legal and political. The contributions compare Silesian autonomy with other Polish autonomy projects of the interwar period and situate it in contemporary legal discourse and political debate. At the same time, an arc is drawn to current attempts at autonomy in Poland. Another focus is the question of jurisdiction in Upper Silesia from a national and international perspective.

Table of contents:

Martin Löhnig: Introduction5
Table of Contents7
Ryszard Kaczmarek: Autonomy of the Silesian Voivodeship and Other Projects of Regional Autonomies in Poland 1918–19399
I. The Autonomy Traditions in Poland after the First World War9
II. Administrative Standardization or Decentralization: the Political Dilemma of the Second Polish Republic11
III. Autonomy Projects in Poland after World War I13
1. Territorial Autonomies13
2. Cultural Autonomies17
IV. Summary19
Adam Krychowski: Polish Legal Concept in Relation to the Silesian Autonomy in the Second Polish Republic21
I. Genesis of Silesian Autonomy21
II. Legal Fundamentals of the Silesian Voivodeship24
III. Autonomy and Local Government in Polish Legal Concept25
IV. Supporters of the State Theory of Local Government and Silesian Autonomy29
V. Silesian Autonomy in Naturalistic Concepts31
VI. Conclusion34
Krzysztof Nowak: Between Cieszyn/Teschen and Bielsko/Bielitz. Polish Cieszyn Silesians and the Silesian Autonomy35
I. What was a Region?35
II. During the Border Conflict (1918–1920)37
III. In the Autonomus Silesian Voivodeship (1920/22–1939)40
Anna Muś: The Autonomous Silesian Voivodship and its Legacy47
I. Introduction47
II. Today48
III. Legacy49
IV. The End of World War II51
1. Hypothesis 1 – Centralization: a Clean Slate for a Centralized and Authoritarian State52
2. Hypothesis 2 – Ethno-nationalist: Making an Ethnically Homogenous State53
3. Conclusions54
V. The End of the Great War54
1. Hypothesis 1 – An Instrument of Propaganda before the Plebiscite55
2. Hypothesis 2 – A Practical Solution for Legal Diversity57
3. Hypothesis 3 – Upper Silesian Regional Particularism59
4. Hypothesis 4 – The People's Will61
5. Hypothesis 5 – Neutralization of Upper Silesian Separatism63
6. Conclusions64
VI. Concluding Remarks65
Donata Zehner: Silesian Jurisdiction after Versailles69
I. Introduction69
II. Administration and International Status of Silesia70
1. Organisation of the Territory70
2. Upper-Silesian Arbitral Tribunal73
III. Court organization in Silesia during the 20th Century Polish Legislative Discussion76
1. Poland76
a) Academic Discussion Concerning Coexisting Legal Systems76
b) Examples for Codification Developments83
aa) Commercial Courts83
bb) Sequence of Courts85
2. Czechoslovakia86
IV. Conclusion88
Anna Stawarska-Rippel: Silesian Legal Microcosm: Courts and Court Procedures in the Silesian Voivodeship and the Polish Supreme Court after the First World War before the Unification of Jurisdiction91
Konrad Graczyk: The Application of the German-Polish Agreement on Upper Silesia 1922–1937. State of Research and Research Postulates103
I. Introductory Notes103
II. State of the Research107
III. Research Postulates125
IV. Conclusions127
Kamila Staudigl-Ciechowicz: Closing remarks129
Bibliography133
List of Authors153

 Read more here: DOI 10.3790/978-3-428-59178-7.

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