Станути і стати ся зас. Ревіталізацийны процесы серед Лемків по 1989 р.

Abstract

To Rise and Become Again: Revitalization Processes Among Lemkos After 1989 The paper aims to assess the nature and effects of the changes in socio-cultural life of Lemkos after 1989. It suggests three critical dates relevant to these changes, which are related to political transformations in Poland and the emerging ethnic policy in the country. The characteristics and assessment of the changes are presented in three parts, which discuss organizations and identity; language, literature, and culture; research and education. Each part substantiates multidirectional quality of the changes, various antinomies and ambivalences in their assessment, and their close relationship with inconsistencies in Polish ethnic policy as well as with global cultural phenomena of the contemporary world. Apart from denoting negative consequences of these factors attention is also brought to notable achievements made in the last thirty years in all areas of cultural and social functioning of the Lemko ethnic minority. However the most important development is the fact there has arisen a Lemko elite of professionals who are fully aware of the endangered status of their ethnic culture and identity and strive to devise and successfully implement revitalization strategies. Opening a cognitive perspective sets the stage for self-reflection about one’s own ethnic positioning.

Keywords

• Lemkos
• ethnic policies
• Lemko organizations
• the Lemko language
• Lemko literature
• Lemko culture