Piotr Kuligowski

This research project investigates the political discourse of "pocket assemblies" in post-Napoleonic Europe, with a focus on Polish-speaking representative bodies. These assemblies, established under the Acts of the Congress of Vienna, operated within imperial frameworks and lacked full sovereignty. They were found in Warsaw, Cracow, L'viv, and Posen and acted as sub-imperial devices maintaining hierarchical monarchic order through local autonomy. The project examines the minutes of proceedings of various assemblies, providing insights into the discourse surrounding the "empire-autonomy" nexus. These assemblies were part of a wider wave of parliamentarization in Europe, serving to test liberal solutions, appease local aspirations, and facilitate administration.