Etniškumo tyrimai: tendencijos ir esminės sąvokos

The studies and research carried out indicate that ethnic identities are no talways recognisable because in most cases they are constructed. Such objective attributes as language, religion, culture or common history do not always outline personal ethnicity; subjective factors or self-identity are important. However, despite the fact that it is difficultto define (notalwaysevident) ethnicidentity, individuals donot change it easilyandrelate it to their ethnic origin. Three main type sofex pression of ethnic relations relevant to the situation of Lithuania are distinguished in this article. Non-dominant ethnic groups can manifest themselves as minorities, diasporas or citizens. Real or implied inequality may streng-then or construct minorities’ identity. The minorities canfinda certaincounterbalancewhile organising themselves as diasporas, however, this might happen at the cost of the loss of thorough contacts with the majority. Eventually, a community of equal and full-right citizens can be formed in which the non-dominant ethnic groups would be structured as “integrated minorities”. In its own turn, it is stated that “ethnic group” is the most qualifiedconceptionforthedevelopmentofethnicstudiesbecauseitavoidsdiscrepancies related to the concepts of “nation” or “minority”

Biografinio metodo taikymo patirtis

The article deals with the peculiarities of the biographic method in the context of qualitative sociology. With an increasing interest in subjective aspects of social phenomena, the biographic method has developed as a certain opposition to structuralism and universalism of Marxism and become an independent widely applied research perspective. Two related research directions, “life history” and “family history”, are presented and illustrated by examples of applying, the biographic method in Lithuania. The author presents her experience in applying this method. Problematic methodological aspects, such as relevant number and selection of respondents, objectivity–subjectivity dimension, intersection of academic discourse and literate narrative, are discussed on the basis of D. Bertaux and M. Kohli. The author concludes that the biographic method is the golden mean between the two methodological distinctions of the qualitative and quantitative research conceptions while studying structured experiences of everyday life of individuals. Studies of personal “life history” enable researchers to focus both on the narrative of the life history itself and on constructions of individual identity, changes of identities and motivations. Individual life history can provide the basis for a study on the ways of survival in a certain social historical situation, individual life crises and significant events. The whole of biographic stories can be an object of analysis of a collective experience in a certain social situation

"Historical" diasporas in modern Lithuanian society

Some of the sources define the diaspora as a process of dispersion of a community, as well as the process of cohesion of groups deriving themselves from this community and living outside their country of origin, in places new to them (in the status of national or cultural minorities). The absence of both moral and cultural support of the "national fireplace" has made diasporas look for strength in themselves, in their own community. Preservation of one’s own identity under such conditions becomes a factor of constant reflective and strict regulation within the community. Objectives of adaptation that would not lead to assimilation and dissolution are not formulated very intensively to immigrating groups and minorities, which feel the power of the "native fireplace" behind them. The main characteristic of the Diaspora is the compe­tence to find its own place in the community’s system regarding division of labor and social roles of the host country (Tartars, Karaites - as perfect security of Lithuanian Dukes, Jews - as artisans and financiers), as well as to find particular cultural and psychological characteristics. The problems of Diasporas were not so sensitive in post-industrial communities. Diasporas should choose between emigration and life in the status of the Diaspora. According to a research on adaptation among ethnic groups in Lithuania the respondents were asked to name the most important category from the list. It appeared that there was no single prevailing category.Lithuanians, Russians and Poles were pointing to some social group, while the members of the historical Diasporas, namely Tartars and Jews, were naming some category of ethnic type. It was only among the Tartars and Jews where there were a few individuals who noted that they most strongly identify themselves with an NGO (there were almost no such choices in other surveyed groups). Also, it can be noted that there is a clear tendency among the Diaspora members to associate the typicality with their own ethnic group. The other groups did not have such a coherent model or understanding of their ethnic typicality. These data allow us to discuss the "new Diasporas" and elaborate on the new quality of the phenomenon under analysis. The "new Diasporas" are in the process of formation, and therefore it is possible to discuss this newly emerging phenomenon which expressive combines both characteristics of the "classical Diaspora" and absolutely new features

Lietuvos etninių grupių adaptacijos ypatumai

The main goals of the authors of the suggested project regard researching adaptation strategies and the factors of choosing particular strategies. In different countries, the post-communist social change consists of varying tendencies and intensity. Non-titular nationalities in the new states have encountered the double adaptation stress: adaptation to market economy, and adaptation to new ethno politics and minority status. The range of social criteria is used as a way to measure and compare the adaptation processes of ethnic group members in different social (and ethnic) contexts. The abstract presents a sociological research of the adaptation of the major ethnic groups in Lithuania: Lithuanians, Poles, and Russians. The methodology of the project was to combine acculturation theory with analysis of social stratification. This attitude enabled achieving the main goal: discovery of differences in social adaptation among the different ethnic group members. Social adaptation here is understood primarily as social mobility and satisfaction with one’s social position. Thanks to a specific research model and sampling the empirical data have been collected. The disproportional stratified sampling enabled to survey the analogous samples taken from each ethnic group. This allowed a reliable comparison. The in-depth interview is an inevitable complementary means in a project like this, since they alone can reveal cases of special social success/failure (that are mostly inaccessible for quantitative studies). Respondents of all three ethnic groups were surveyed in different places of Lithuania. This was the first stage of a larger research idea. So far, no studies based on this methodology have been conducted in Lithuania; after completion of the research, it is intended to repeat it in a few other countries.The project results should be enriched by further research as well as used in theoretical studies of ethnic processes; the materials developed here will also be forwarded to the policy group that works on integration of national minorities. Separately described are ethnic classification, social adaptation and status groups and present the acculturation theory of J. Berry; they make the methodological framework of the project. In introducing the empirical results, the tendencies that best illustrate the differences among the ethnic groups are presented. The reviewed topics include the identification tendencies among the major ethnic groups, ethnic tolerance, and evaluation of its own social position and perception of its change. The research revealed that members of the ethnic groups differ in perceiving their status and its change; that a certain ethnic isolation exists; that the subjectively perceived deterioration of social position correlates to marginality

The adaptation of ethnic minority groups : defining the problem (case of Lithuania)

Mažumų savijautai besiintegruojančioje Europoje ypač svarbu bus atvirumo ir uždarumo santykis. Atviros visuomenės ir pilietinių vertybių klausimas aktualus ir ES centrui, ir paribiams. Baltijos šalių politiniai elitai, tvirtai pasisakę už integraciją į ES, iš tiesų ne visuomet pakankamai dėmesio skyrė visuomenės grupių požiūriams ir preferencijoms. Su stojimu į ES susijusiame visuomenės mobilizavimo procese etninės mažumos gana dažnai liko nepastebėtos ir į šį procesą neįtrauktos. Nors šiandien praktiškai neįmanoma įsivaizduoti žmogaus, turinčio tik vieną etninę tapatybę, daugelio valstybių – ypač Rytų Europoje – kultūros ir etninė politika grindžiama būtent tokia prielaida. Būtent todėl kartais atrodo, kad žmonių judėjimas ir etninė įvairovė – naujas iššūkis, nors iš tiesų šie procesai nėra nauji. Nepaisant palyginti sėkmingos ir subalansuotos Lietuvos etninės politikos, Europos šalių patirties kontekste keliami klausimai gali darytis vis aktualesni. Reikia numatyti, kad migraciją visuomenė paprastai vertina prieštaringai, ir įvaizdžiai bei realybė dažnai susipina. Todėl svarbu tinkamai identifikuoti realius procesus ir gerai suformuluoti klausimus, skirtus etninei politikai. Kaip integruosime ir absorbuosime migrantus? Ar kultūrinės integracijos praktikos pakanka, kad užtikrintume mažumų integraciją, užkirstume kelią socialinei atskirčiai ir nelygybei? Kokiomis kryptimis reikėtų plėtoti etninę politiką?Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta