Handlungsspielräume ländlicher Gemeinden im 19. Jahrhundert

Zwei ostfranzösische Beispiele im mikrohistorischen Vergleich

Abstract

The article treats two fundamental processes of modern state-building in comparative perspective: the integration of rural communities into modern state administration and the expansion of modern state activities to traffic and cultural infrastructure at the local level. The article explores these processes in two villages near Bar-le-Duc in Eastern France. First it asks if these processes can actually be found in these small administrations. Next, the author investigates the possible extent of the collaboration between local administrative representatives and the upper levels of state administration. Thereby, the article treats the paramount question if the modern bureaucratic state arrived everywhere, even in the last village of the countryside, far away from the centres of political power. Based upon the quantitative analysis of the local financial reports and the qualitative analysis of other administrative sources, this case shows the following results: Both local administrations were integrated parts of the state administration. They tended to strengthen their activities in traffic and cultural infrastructure, especially for primary schools. In case of conflicts with the state administration the local authorities developed wide scopes to achieve their goals. They succeeded under the condition that the local political elites where supported by the majority of the local population.