STRONNICTWO LUDOWE: PROBLEMS OF FORMING THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE PARTY IN THE GALICIAN COUNTIES OF WESTERN UKRAINE (1931–1935)

The article examines the challenges associated with establishing the organizational network of the largest Polish political party in the region, the Stronnictwo Ludowe (hereafter referred to as SL). This party, which was founded in March 1931, opposed the existing government and primarily represented the interests of the Polish ethnic peasantry. Its formation followed a prolonged period of integration within the Polish peasant movement, beginning after the parliamentary elections of 1928. The key factors that drove this unification included the government’s neglect of the political interests of peasants, the economic crisis that commenced in 1929, and the unresolved issue of land reform in interwar Poland. From 1931 to 1935, the SL faced significant challenges in its development, primarily through the unification of existing centers such as the Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe "Piast," Polskie Stronnictwo Ludowe "Wyzwolenie," and Stronnictwo Chłopskie. The difficulties in forming a regional network were largely due to the declining activity of local centers of peasant political parties that had joined the SL, as well as the repressive actions of the Sanation regime, which sought to diminish the political influence of opposition parties. These developments hindered the swift establishment of SL’s regional centers, particularly in Western Ukraine. In Galicia, the SL was unable to fully capitalize on its organizational potential, exerting limited influence on the local Polish peasantry compared to other regions of Poland. The party’s influence did not extend to areas like Volhynia and Polissia, due to several objective factors, including the dispersed Polish ethnic population, internal contradictions among the party leadership following unification, opposition to the influential Sanation camp, and the repressive tactics employed by Józef Piłsudski's regime against peasant movement leaders. Nonetheless, despite the unfavorable conditions, in certain counties within Galicia, supporters of the peasant movement succeeded in creating a developed SL network. Alongside organizational measures, SL's regional centers engaged in substantial efforts to defend the political interests of the Polish peasantry. Between 1931 and 1935, these efforts were shaped by the party’s opposition to the government, particularly in resisting the regime’s attempts to curtail peasant rights in elections to Poland’s legislative bodies. The party also placed considerable emphasis on addressing economic challenges, which were particularly pressing for the peasantry during the global economic crisis of the early 1930s. By advocating policies that aimed to protect the Polish peasantry, the SL leadership skillfully leveraged the deteriorating economic and political situation to enhance the party's influence further. Keywords: Stronnictwo Ludowe, party, structure, peasants, Galicia.