LXII Series Historica 2023

Abstract: This study analyses to what extent social origin, family and confessional networks influenced the rise and development of the Romanian political elite in Transylvania in the second half of the nineteenth century and at the beginning of the twentieth century. This analysis focuses on the Greek-Catholic and Orthodox laymen and clergymen who asserted themselves in the political life of Transylvania during the studied period. Starting from the unanimously accepted premise that clergymen were gradually replaced by secular politicians (laymen) on the political stage in the second half of the nineteenth century, we aim to achieve the following goals. 

First of all, we wish to identify the social provenance of this political elite and the decisive role played by the socio-economic background in their advancement as individual actors or as members of a decision-making group. Secondly, we intend to see to what extent belonging to a confession, in this case to the Greek-Catholic and Orthodox faith, was an incentive towards political cohesionin dualistic Hungary. Specifically, we will try to answer a few research questions such as: did confession still serve, in the second half of the nineteenth century, as an invisible bondamong the Romanian political elite? Given the existing structures in the territory, at the level of the dioceses, vicariates and deaneries, could confession ensure a broader and more efficient electoral support compared to other voter activation mechanisms? 

Last but not least, we will attempt to capture the socio-confessional networks existing at the level of the Romanian political groups, their ramifications in the territory and their ability to support and influence the political leaders’decisions. 

Keywords: Romanian political elite, Transylvania, social mobility, family and confessional networks.