Lusatia from the inside–a society through the eyes of Sorbian teachers, artists and politicians. Cover Image

Łużyce od wewnątrz – społeczeństwo w oczach serbołużyckich nauczycieli, twórców kultury i polityków
Lusatia from the inside–a society through the eyes of Sorbian teachers, artists and politicians.

Author(s): Justyna Michniuk
Subject(s): Cultural Essay, Political Essay, Societal Essay
Published by: Instytut Slawistyki Polskiej Akademii Nauk
Keywords: Sorbs; national identity; endangered languages; minority rights; folklore

Summary/Abstract: Lusatia is a region in the heart of Europe. The Sorbs – a West Slavic nation, people who have lived in Lusatia for more than 1000 years, is not one homogeneous nation, but is divided into Upper and Lower Sorbs, with two dissimilar languages, two religions and two mentalities. I decided to rediscover Lusatia and talk with the people who are Sorbs. A one month stay in Bautzen was possible thanks to financial and scientific support from the Sorbian Institute (Serbski institut / Sorbisches Institut). Examining the past and current situation of the people in Lower and Upper Lusatia, I focused on their language, history and culture. In my studies I did not want to show the external image of the Sorbs, I did not try to create it either. All I wanted was to find out from the Sorbs themselves from which ‘elements’ does their individual identity originate. I was also interested to discover if Sorbs, as the smallest Slavic nation without their own country, feel more connected to a Sorbian origin, or perhaps to German citizenship.

  • Issue Year: 2013
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 83-95
  • Page Count: 13
  • Language: Polish