Based on the research conducted, it should be stated that the political currents analyzed herein originated outside of the Lemko region. Beginning from the early 19th century, they fi rst developed in Eastern Galicia. Th is forces us to link social and political events and phenomena occurring in the Lemko community with the transformations taking place in the Eastern part of the country and leads us to conclude that the Lemko region had close connections to the political development of East Galician centers of thought and action. Th is interconnectedness was sustained in the interwar period.

We face some problems when classifying the political elites. It is diffi cult to narrowly distinguish the elite with Lemko origins and attach to it a definite political orientation. A great many activists, it is true, lived in the Lemko region or surrounding cities, but had origins outside of its ethnographic area. This applies in particular to the intelligentsia, for whom it was easier to change places of residence. The Lemko region attracted national activists, Moscophiles and Old Rusyns; priests (Eastern Orthodox and Greek Catholic), lawyers and doctors. Migration also flowed in the reverse direction - Lemkos came to reinforce branches of institutions of varying political hues in Lviv and other cities, establishing medical practices and attorneys’ offices. After getting an education it was natural for them to settle in Eastern Galicia, putting aside their Lemko origins.