On the beginnings and particularities of the Lithuanization of cities Cover Image

Dėl miestų lituanizavimo proceso ištakų ir specifikos
On the beginnings and particularities of the Lithuanization of cities

Author(s): Vasilijus Safronovas
Subject(s): History, Social Sciences, Regional Geography, Nationalism Studies, Rural and urban sociology, 19th Century
Published by: Vilniaus Universiteto Leidykla
Keywords: urbanization; nationalization of cities; Lithuanization of cities; ideology;

Summary/Abstract: In the long nineteenth century, the process of the nationalization of cities, perceived as the efforts of people identified themselves with particular national community to get established in the cities in a variety of ways, manifested itself throughout a large part of the East Central Europe. In almost all cases such nationalization meant the transformation of a pluricultural city into “one’s own”, allegedly belonging to one nation. In European historiography, research of this process is far from being innovative. Still, investigation of the Lithuanians’ efforts to get established in the cities are gaining momentum only now, while a number of questions, particularly those concerned the initial stages of the process, remain unanswered so far. On the basis of researches into this process in their contemporary stage of development, the article examines, whether the efforts of Lithuanians to get established in the urban areas can be summarized and contextualised according to some general European example. The author aims to answer the question of whether the Lithuanization of cities was somehow exceptional in the regional context. He also examines the factors that led to the specifics of that Lithuanization.

  • Issue Year: 2015
  • Issue No: 01
  • Page Range: 32-56
  • Page Count: 25
  • Language: Lithuanian