Etnická klasifikace a institucionální zakotvení národnosti v českých zemích 1880–1914

The ethnic (nationalist) classification and institutional position of nationalities in Cisleithania strongly reflected also the state’s interest. The state authorities had to take into consideration, in particular, the trends of social and politicaldevelopment, such as the rising significance of national identity and theinterconnection of national and civil rights. It should be noted here that in Cisleithania most of the populations of different nationality enjoyed favorable conditions to develop their national life. The main motive of the Taaffe Government’s decision to include the questionable category of communication language instead of the mother tongue or family language in the 1880 census consisted in the legal possibility of assimilation, i.e., preventing a nationality closure and, last but not least, protecting the integrity of the state. The whole period of 1880-1914 demonstrated the significance of independent judicial power. The Administrative Court and the Imperial Court of Cisleithania played an important role in establishing the nationalist principle in public life where the nationalist and the civil principles intertwined.