Family Networks and the “Generational Key” in the Renewed Approaches of Social Questioning of the Slovak Elite at the Beginning of the 20th Century.

Abstract

Until the 1890s, most public affairs surrounding the Slovak elites were managed from the small town of Turčianský Sväty Martin in Turiec County, and based on a long-lasting programme drawn up in 1861 that mainly focused, in a classical approach from the late 1840s, on language and national individuality of the Slovaks vis-à-vis both Hungarians and Czechs.A shift occurred from the early 1900s onwards, deeply modifying the main axis of public and social activities of the educated Slovak milieu. This shift coincided with an emerging new generation influenced by foreign experiences observed personally during their studies in the Empire – and in the Czech Lands especially – or abroad. It was also based on long-standing family ties and local/regional solidarities. This paper studies how and to what extent these factors deeply renewed the approach of social reflection in the mostly Slovak Counties of the Kingdom of Hungary during the first decade of the 20th century.