Kauno miesto valdantysis elitas 1918-1940 m

LTPasaulyje jau ilgą laiką populiarūs įvairialypiai elito tyrimai, vykdomi tiek sociologų, tiek politologų, istorikų. Ši monografija yra apie Kauno miesto – laikinosios sostinės – valdžios elitą. Tai miesto savivaldos institucijų žmonės, išrinkti miesto gyventojų ir priimantys miestui svarbius sprendimus, t. y. valdantysis elitas. Šiam elitui priskirsime ir eilinius darbininkus, beraščius, juodadarbius vien dėl to, kad jie buvo išrinkti į miesto valdžios institucijas, jais pasitikėta, jie galėjo priimti politinius sprendimus. Tyrimo tikslas – atskleidus Kauno miesto valdančiojo elito kolektyvinį portretą, socialinį grupės veidą, parodyti elito veiklos ypatumus ir tarpusavio santykius. Tikimasi, kad šia monografija bus patikslintos daugelio žymių tarpukario Lietuvos veikėjų biografijos, o pirmą kartą nustatytos ir įvardytos vietos valdžios elito tapatybės bei pateikiama faktografinė medžiaga bus naudinga būsimiems tyrimams.

ENThis monograph explores the governing elite of Kaunas, specifically individuals elected to municipal governance institutions who made significant decisions for the city. While the broader concept of the city's elite could encopass more than just government officials, this study focuses on the elected elite, i.e., those wielding the greatest political and social power, primarily within the city council or executive board. The individuals in power represented various organizations, political parties, economic interest groups, and territorial communities. During the First Republic of Lithuania, the Kaunas City Council was elected six times: in 1918, 1920, 1921, 1924, 1931, and 1934. The last two elections were censored and considerably restricted. The objective of this research is to provide a collective portrait of the governing elite of Kaunas by examining their social characteristics, activities, and mutual relationships. The monograph aims to analyze election campaigns, the results, candidates, and elected council members; investigate sociodemographic characteristics such as gender, origin, age, religion, ethnicity, marital status, education, and profession; and to assess the property ownership and connections to political parties or other organiztions. Additionally, the study examines the career trajectories of council members, their pre- and post-municipal careers, and their institutional relationships with the central government. A key focus is on how the elite's collective portrait evolved over time, as the twenty-year period under investigation was not homogeneous. [p. 244].