Primary Areas of Activity of Volyn Zemstvo at the Beginning of the 20th Century

Abstract

The purpose of the research paper is to disclose and analyze key areas of zemstvos activity in Volyn gubernia at the beginning of the 20^th century (providing agronomic assistance to the local population, the development of a network of rural outpatient departments and zemstvo hospitals, and the establishment of elementary zemstvo schools) and to highlight the peculiarities of elections to povit and gubernia zemstvos.

The scientific novelty is that the authors analyze the key areas of zemstvos activity in the region, taking into account that in Volyn gubernia, as in other Western gubernias, zemstvos began their activities much later than in other regions of the Empire. Despite the challenges and the exacerbation of the social and economic situation in the region associated with the conduct of hostilities in Volyn during World War I, zemstvos played an important role in the establishment of a network of schools, outpatient departments and hospitals, provided agronomic assistance to the population, and so on.

Conclusions. It is determined that the question of establishing zemstvos arose in Volyn gubernia, as in other gubernias of the Western region, only at the beginning of the 20^th century. Despite the difficult situation, immediately after the start of their activities, the zemstvos played an important role in providing agronomic assistance to the local population. Another feature of the functioning of Volyn zemstvo was the irreconcilable struggle of the Black Hundreds with the supporters of ‘zemstvo democratic self-government.’ Concurrently, the allies vehemently opposed the admission of foreigners in the work of zemstvo; first of all, it concerned the Poles, German and Czech agrarian colonists, and Jews.

Notwithstanding the arduous situation throughout their brief period of activity in Volyn, the gubernia and povit zemstvos also played an important role in establishing a network of elementary zemstvo schools, vocational training institutions, and more. Concurrent with the development of education, zemstvos contributed to establishing zemstvo hospitals and rural outpatient departments. However, many of Volyn zemstvo’s plans were not implemented due to the outbreak of World War I, which resulted in Volyn gubernia initially becoming frontier, and since 1915, active hostilities were conducted in its territory, while the Western povits were occupied by Austro-Hungarian and German troops.