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”
