PhD. Topics

Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Banská Bystrica and Socio-Economic Development of Central Slovakia in the Interwar Period

Slovak History

PhDr. Ľudovít Hallon, DrSc.

Contact:

Faculty of Arts, Comenius University Bratislava

The aim of the dissertation is to research and evaluate the significance of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ChCI) in Banská Bystrica for the economic and social development of Central Slovakia during the interwar period. The doctoral student's task is to explore the development of the ChCI in Banská Bystrica following the establishment of Czechoslovakia, especially through archival research of the extensive Archival Fund of the Chamber in the National Archive in Bratislava. Another objective is to delineate the primary directions of socio-economic development in Central Slovakia, which was adversely affected by the economic crisis, particularly the disposal of part of the industry after 1918. Subsequently, the doctoral student will assess the key segments of the ChCI's activities in Banská Bystrica aimed at overcoming negative economic phenomena and promoting social development in the monitored region. The doctoral student will also evaluate the tangible results of these activities. The research will focus on the scope of the ChCI in Banská Bystrica, which, in 1919, defined the regions of the former County of the Hungarian Kingdom, namely Orava, Liptov, Zvolen, and Tekov Counties, as well as the Slovak parts of Hont, Novohrad, and Gemer Counties. Since a significant portion of the ChCI's agenda in Banská Bystrica was conducted in Hungarian and German after 1918, working on this topic requires at least basic knowledge of these languages.
Requirements: Knowledge of Slovak and English (min B2), reading proficiency in Hungarian and German.