Klaipėdos vietinio valdymo sistema: istorinių tyrimų būklė, problemos, perspektyvos ; The system of Klaipėda's local administration, present situation, problems and prospects of its historical investigation

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Abstract

The article aims to structure historical knowledge on Klaipėda municipal and local government issues, to highlight the problems, and suggest guidelines for future studies. The author defines local government development stages, and analyses the state of studies and the accessibility of sources. More attention is paid to the results of studies that cover local government structure of 1945-1990, and problems related to the definition of legal status of sovereign and relationship of citizens in a time of Teutonic Order. On the basis of the scope of public participation in local and municipal government structures, changes of competencies, and structural development criteria, the author defines three stages of local government development in Klaipėda: the 13th – the beginning of the 19th c., the beginning of 19th c. – 1945, and 1945-1990. Studies of the first stage are the most explicit ones. Other two periods are less studied, but there are not few unused sources of the 16th-19th c. All stages lack for comparative evaluation of historic and historiographic contexts; historiography lacks for the identification of problems of this subject. The analysis of some problem issues called for a conclusion that the confirmation of Lubeck rights to Klaipėda should be dated 1258 and interpreted in two contexts: 1) the 13th c. pressure between Lubeck and German order in regards to the establishment of cities in the East Baltic region; and 2) possible contradiction between visions of German and Livonian orders in regards to the development of Klaipėda city. The confirmation of the 1475's privilege should be assumed as Great Master's aim to liquidate the exclusivity of Klaipėda city and completely integrate its citizens into legal state structure of the Order.