An in-depth analysis presented in this article concludes that the views and socio-political activities of Wacław Komarnicki were aimed at reasserting the Polish national interest and realizing the idea of the state of law associated with the rule of law. The analysis is based on archival and printed sources and selected literature on the subject. It required the use of appropriate research methods. The biographical method, in conjunction with the content analysis method, proved to be most helpful. Among the research techniques, the analysis of testimonies of political thought proved to be particularly useful.

Commonwealth Senators in the Context of National Democracy in the years 1928–1930

The following article provides an outline of a lesser known historical phenomenon related to the actions of Polish parliamentary politicians of the National Democracy (ND) formation in the years 1928-1930. In stark contrast to the elections of 1922, the elections of 1928 resulted in the defeat of the Nationalist camp, which ended up having only nine ND politicians. First, the article sketches a sociological map of ND senators. Secondly, it delves into the activities of senators in particular Senate boards, therefore explaining the real impact these people had on the workings of the higher chamber. Finally, an analysis of various statements is conducted with the aim of summarising the political views of these senators as well as the main issues they focused on, including state administration, justice, local governance, education and foreign policy.

The purpose of this article is to present the political views of Tadeusz Świecki, an activist of the National Democracy in the Płock Mazovia region. The article is based on archival materials, scientific studies and journalistic articles. In structural terms it consists of two separate parts. The first one presents basic biographical data. The second part analyses political views. In order to achieve the aim, two main research methods have been used: biographical and content analysis. The main research hypothesis assumes that Tadeusz Świecki was an undoubted leader of the Płock National Democrats. According to the second hypothesis, he was an original political thinker who tried to synthesize national-democratic views with political Romanticism.

The disobedient women – leaders of the National Organization for Women. A sketch for a group portrait of the National Democracy women activists 1919–1929)

The significance and scale of Endek influence in the nineteenth and twentieth century were not the outcome of stricly party organizations. A social movement, which had been built up since the partition era, reflected the strength of the nationalist camp. Vigorous associations – both secret and conspiratorial – united both men and women of various social backgrounds, economic positions, and professionial affiliations. This included the National Organization of Women (NOK) – founded in 1919 – which was one of the largest and most influential women’s groups in the Second Polish Republic. The following article is an attempt to present selected aspects of the biographies of NOK leaders, which collectively make up a collective portrait of Natinal Democratic women of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. The analysis includes such elements as: the intellectual climate of the era, the significance of the partitions in female political activism in indepent Poland, and the role of the Catholic faith (both in its individual and social dimensions). It is also indispensable to discuss the circumstances of the NOK’s founding and the motives propelling Polish women toward activism in the public sphere: first, in the electoral campaign to the Constituent Diet (1919) on behalf of the National Democratic movement, and, secondly, through involvement in the association’s actitivities. In this context, it is wortwhile to pose a question about the roles of men and women in the ranks of the National Democratic movement. This is an issue that deserves to be investigated since the members of NOK, in response to the needs of a newly-independent Polish state, rejected the notion of gender conflict, aiming instead to build a community in which the activism of men and women could be mutually complementary.

Sketch to the biography of a landowner.  Marian Kiniorski (1868–1943) Marian Kiniorski (1868–1943

The article presents the life and public activity of Marian Kiniorski. He studied at the University of Agriculture in Dublany, the University of Berlin and the School of Political Sciences in Paris (until 1899). He was a modern landowner, striving for the industrialization of property, the use of new agricultural techniques and agricultural progress. He belonged to a number of societies and landowners’ organizations (including the president of the Central Agricultural Society). At the same time, he was an active political activist associated with the National Democracy (a member of the National League, then the Board of the National People’s Union and the authorities of the National Party). A member of the Russian State Duma, then a senator of the Republic of Poland, participated in debates on the land reform. Active journalist, author of specialist articles on agricultural and social topics. In 1930 he withdrew from public life, focusing on the farm. He died in Warsaw

Bernard Chrzanowski and his account of his work in the National League

The article deals with Bernard Chrzanowski’s account of his participation in the work of the National League. Chrzanowski was a lawyer, national, educational and social activist in the Prussian partition. In the Second Republic he held the office of school superintendent and sat in the Senate. Chrzanowski’s account, presented in the text, contains invaluable information about Poznan members of the National League before 1918, being among the few surviving testimonies about the group’s activities.