The national minority as a driver of cultural cross-border cooperation and local development: Evidence from the Polish–Lithuanian borderland

Abstract

This paper considers the issue of minority participation in local cultural development, as illustrated by the case of the Lithuanian minority in Puńsk, Poland. The authors identify some factors which support engagement of the national minority in crossborder cultural cooperation. The illustrative case demonstrates how cross-border cooperation based on a minority’s activities can lead to improved relations between neighbouring countries. For the analysed territory, the Lithuanian minority’s activities make an important contribution to balancing bilateral relations and agreeing the strategic goals of borderland development. The activities attract tourists who want to experience the specific Lithuanian culture in Puńsk and Lithuanian minority activities there have become a tourist attraction for borderland visitors. The Puńsk case study shows how the Polish community’s development has been strongly influenced both by Lithuanian culture and by the minority’s activities.