Activities of Ukrainian and Polish Political Parties and Civic Organizations in the Luboml County of Volhynian Voivodeship during the Interwar Period

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of political and public activity in the Luboml county of the Volyn voivodeship in the interwar period.

It analyzes the operation of Ukrainian and Polish political parties, as well as civic organizations, at the local level. The study explores organizational structures, mechanisms of interaction with the local population, and participation in electoral processes, providing an assessment of political mobilization and the influence of these actors on public opinion. Special attention is given to the interaction between local parties and the Polish administration, the impact of state control and repressive institutions on political life, and the specific local features of party and civic activity within Luboml County.

A wide range of sources was utilized, including Ukrainian and Polish scholarly works, archival materials from the Volyn and Lviv Voivodeship administrations, Luboml County Starosty, and contemporary periodicals (Gazeta Kresowa, Wołyń, Głos Wołyński, Przegląd Wołyński). Both official state reports and the activities of local political cells were analyzed, enabling reconstruction of the organizational structures and functioning of parties and organizations, their engagement in socio-political processes, and their influence on the population.

The study adopts a comprehensive approach: combining literature review, statistical data, archival documents, and periodicals allows the political climate of Luboml District to be reconstructed and the influence of Ukrainian and Polish parties on social dynamics, cultural-national processes, and political culture formation to be assessed. It was established that local characteristics of Luboml District significantly shaped interethnic relations, the degree of political radicalization and consolidation of forces, and reflected broader interwar trends in Volyn Province.

This article contributes to understanding the regional specifics of political life in Western Volyn, provides systematic insights into interactions between parties, civic organizations, and the state, and lays the groundwork for further research on local political activity in interwar Poland.