Deputies From the Town of Aleksinac in the Assemblies of the Principality and the Kingdom of Serbia (1870–1918)

Abstract

This paper analyses the political representation of the town of Aleksinac in the assemblies of the Principality and the Kingdom of Serbia, situating it within the broader processes of state-building and the development of parliamentary institutions in the second half of the nineteenth and the early twentieth centuries. By tracing the chronological succession of deputies, the study demonstrates that local political elites played a significant role in mediating between central authorities and local communities, thereby contributing to the consolidation of modern political structures. The electoral history of Aleksinac reflects key transformations in Serbian political life, including the transition from publicly conducted elections under strong governmental influence to more institutionalised practices based on secrecy and party organisation. Particular attention is devoted to the long-term political prominence of Vasa K. Stošić, whose career illustrates the enduring influence of local leadership in a period increasingly shaped by ideological and partisan divisions. Combining elements of prosopographical analysis with a microhistorical approach, the paper highlights the importance of local perspectives for understanding the functioning of parliamentary politics in Serbia. It argues that the study of smaller urban centres such as Aleksinac provides valuable insights into the dynamics of political modernisation, the formation of representative institutions, and the interaction between local and national political spheres.