Slovak National Party (historical)

The Slovak National Party (Slovenská národná strana, SNS) was a Slovak political party that existed in various forms and with varying ideologies throughout the 19th and 20th centuries. Several distinct parties have borne this name, often reflecting the evolving national aspirations of Slovaks within the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Czechoslovakia, and later, Slovakia.

The original Slovak National Party was formed in 1871 and became the primary political representative of the Slovak national movement within Austria-Hungary. Its platform centered on achieving Slovak autonomy within the empire, preserving Slovak language and culture, and advocating for greater rights for Slovaks. Prominent figures associated with this early SNS included Jozef Miloslav Hurban, Svetozár Hurban Vajanský, and Pavol Mudroň. This party played a crucial role in the development of Slovak national consciousness and the eventual declaration of independence. Its activities were particularly focused on cultural and educational initiatives as tools for national preservation. The party ceased to function formally after the creation of Czechoslovakia in 1918, as the political landscape changed and new parties emerged.

Subsequently, other parties adopting the name "Slovak National Party" arose at different points in the 20th century. These later incarnations often differed significantly in their political orientation from the original party, with some aligning themselves with nationalist or even fascist ideologies, particularly during the World War II era and the existence of the Slovak State (1939-1945). The party was banned after the war.

The name "Slovak National Party" was revived again after the Velvet Revolution in 1989, but this later SNS is a distinct entity with a different historical trajectory and ideological profile than the original 19th-century party. Therefore, it is important to distinguish between the different historical organizations that have used the same name.