Ethnic minorities in the postcommunist transformation of Lithuania

Abstract

This paper studies the evolution of ethnic minorities and their relations with Lithuanian nationals. With the creation of independence, the situation of ethnic groups - like that of mixed-race groups - changed enormously. Russians, Byelorussians, Ukrainians and other families who had entered Lithuania principally when it was under Russian administration had to face the dilemmas of whether they should live in the new Byelorussian state or in Russia, what citizenship they should be applying for and how to rediscover their ethnic identity. Poles, Jews, Tartars, Germans and Karaims had all lived for centuries in Lithuania. Their roots could be retraced over several ages in the economy and culture of Lithuania. In spite of that, they still have many problems regarding their ethnic identity, culture and education. In the case of the indigenous Lithuanian population, the problem was one of forming a majority after previously functioning as a semi-minority.