The dynamics of ethnic relations presented on the example of Polish-Lithuanian relations in the North-Eastern borderland of Poland (original) (raw)
Related papers
2013
"Many changes in political affiliation during last centuries caused that East European countries are inhabited by many minorities. Nowadays the national minorities are quite important part of different societies but they have also different functional possibilities. In different countries they have different legal status which influence on their situations. Nowadays Poles are the largest national minority in Lithuania (about 235 thousands people of 3 millions population) with many organizations. In opposite Lithuanian minority is not so large in Poland (about 8 thousands people of 38 millions population) but they also have got their own institutions. The presentation will be a comparison of the demographic, political and legal activity and education of both national minorities. In the other hand it will be a comparison of contemporary situation of both nations in opinions of the leaders of Polish organizations in Lithuania and Lithuanian organizations in Poland. It will be based on empirical researches. The conclusion of the presentation will be assertion if and how the different legal, demographic, institutional situation affect on the behavior of Lithuanian and Polish national identity and on the relations with the inhabited country and the nation. "
Geographia Polonica, 2014
Contemporary Polish-Lithuanian relations are heavily burdened by radically different assessments of the situations of the national minorities in the two countries, i.e. Poles in Lithuania and Lithuanians in Poland. However, assessments are fraught with difficulties reflecting a complicated history and the different potentials of the two minorities, and also warped by a great many stereotypes. The main aim of this paper is to compare the situations of the Polish minority in Lithuania and the Lithuanian minority in Poland by reference to criteria that are objective (demographic potential, legal status, organisational activity, education) or subjective (the opinions of leaders of national organisations), as well as to attempt to determine how the different situations of the two minorities affects their relations with the authorities, the majority and the foreign homeland.
The comparison of the contemporary situation of national minorities in Poland and Lithuania
“Geografijos metraštis” (Annales Geographicae), 2013
In the early 90s, significant changes in the political and geopolitical situation in Eastern Europe occurred inter alia the collapse of communist rule and the collapse of the Soviet Union. All these processes have caused also social, legal and organizational changes of the situation of national minorities in Eastern Europe. There have been the liberalization and empowerment of national minorities. After 1990 began to be formed many organizations which were connected with social, educational, cultural or political life of national minorities. But on the other hand the result of these changes was a revival of old conflicts in Eastern Europe.
The Polish minority in the Republic of Lithuania: internal and external factors
Baltic Region
The ethnic makeup of the population significantly affects the domestic policy of any state, and its relations with neighbouring countries. Although interactions with ethnic minorities are not as urgent a problem in Lithuania as they are in the two other Baltic States, ethnicity-related conflicts continue to occur, particularly, as regards the relations between the Lithuanian state and the Polish minority, which is the largest in the country. The Polish minority-Lithuania-Poland relations are not the only factor that affects the situation of the Poles in Lithuania. The other important factors are Lithuania and Poland' EU membership, the relations between Lithuania and Russia, and the Russian minority in Lithuania. Our analysis shows that the EU membership of Lithuania and Poland did not provide an instant solution to the problem of the Polish minority but rather attenuated it. Although the EU factor played a significant role before the accession of Poland and Lithuania to the Union, its influence is very limited today. The effect of the Russian factor is different. Strained Polish-Russian relations do not affect the relations between the Polish and Russian minorities in Lithuania. On the contrary, both minorities collaborate on a wide range of issues.
Social Pathology and Prevention
The article presents the situation of national and ethnic minorities and foreigners in Poland in the context of legal and demographic changes that took place between the censuses in 2002 and 2011. There were many factors that affected the situation of minorities in Poland, among them: • the entry into force of new legislation (primarily the 2006 National and Ethnic Minorities Act), • activities of the Silesian Autonomy Movement, including the public hearing in the European Court of Human Rights concerning the refusal to register by the Supreme Court in Poland of the Association of Silesian Nationals, • change of census methodology, among others. By introducing the possibility of a declaration of dual national-ethnic identification, • increase in immigration in Poland, especially those from the eastern border, • these factors were presented in statistical and social terms-based on opinion polls in Poland.
2014
This working paper discusses the main aspects of the study of the Polish minority in contemporary Belarus. Particular attention is paid to issues of identity, authorities' stance towards Poles and various aspects of the functioning of Polish organizations in the country. Relations between the states of Belarus and Poland in the context of the Polish minority also point to possible directions of research on the Polish minority, such as a comparative study of the situation of Poles in the neighbouring countries – Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.
European Yearbook on Minority Issues, Volume 12, 2013, Leiden, Boston 2016, pp. 122-157. This article provides an overview of the recent political and legal events surrounding the protection of Lithuania’s Polish national minority in the context of Lithuanian– Polish bilateral relations, focusing particularly on what has occurred since the so-called golden age of relations between the two countries. This article aims to present up-todate information on the current stage of dialogue on the issue of national minorities in Lithuania and on the actual protection of the Polish minority in this country. After the expiration of the Law on national minorities in Lithuania in 2010, the primary bones of contention between the two countries have been the use of the language of minorities in communication with local authorities and in bilingual topographical signs, the use of names and surnames in a minority language, rights related to the education of national minorities, and rights related to political participation of national minorities.
POLISH NATIONAL MINORITY IN BELARUS AS A RESEARCH PROBLEM
2014
This working paper discusses the main aspects of the study of the Polish minority in contemporary Belarus. Particular attention is paid to issues of identity, authorities' stance towards Poles and various aspects of the functioning of Polish organizations in the country. Relations between the states of Belarus and Poland in the context of the Polish minority also point to possible directions of research on the Polish minority, such as a comparative study of the situation of Poles in the neighbouring countries - Lithuania, Latvia and Ukraine.
Cultural Management: Science and Education, 2020
The research problem is minority participation in local development, illustrated by the case of the Lithuanian minority's activities in Poland. The aim of the paper is to analyse actions conducted by the Lithuanian minority in Poland (Punsk) and to point out some factors supporting cross-border cultural cooperation engaging the national minority, based on best practices from the Lithuanian-Polish border-land. It is a good illustration of a process leading to the improvement of relations between neighbouring countries, thanks to cross-border cooperation based on the minority's activities. The authors analyse a case study regarding Polish commune development strongly influenced by Lithuanian culture and the Lithuanian minority's activities. It is analysed in the paper together with qualitative research (interviews) that allowed the research problem to be solved.