Discussing Characteristics of Economic Nationalism in the 1930s: The Case of Lithuanian and Jewish Relations

The purpose of the article is to highlight the characteristics of economic nationalism through an analysis of the relations between Lithuanians and ethnic minorities (Jews) in cases of the protectionist economic policy of the Lithuanian government as well as ethnic discrimination and ethnic conflicts in 1930 1940. The author of the article has highlighted the general characteristics typical of economic nationalism in a number of forms. Firstly, the protectionist economic policy of the government, the aim whereof was to oust entrepreneurs of other nationalities, especially Jewish, and to increase the relative number of Lithuanians in the trade and banking business sectors. Secondly, the discriminatory policy of the authorities against Jewish individuals to ensure that the latter could not take civil service positions in state and municipal institutions (which in fact eliminated them from working within the authorities). Thirdly, causing ethnic discord in the media, shaping a negative and hostile opinion about ethnic minorities, e.g. by accusing Russians of Russification and labelling them as invaders; by accusing Jews of stealing businesses from Lithuanians and labelling them as exploiters of Lithuanians; by accusing Poles of Polonization and anti-Lithuanian attitudes, etc. Fourthly, activities of economic organizations or movements targeting ethnic minorities and demanding to restrict their businesses, boycott their goods and services. Fifthly, public rallies and demonstrations instigating the nationalist sentiment, e.g. the typical slogan of nationalist rallies “Lithuania for Lithuanians”, “making the business Lithuanian again”, “Lithuania to become Lithuanian”. Finally, provoking ethnic conflicts or acts of violence against ethnic minorities (including damaging property by arson or otherwise, and physical violence against representatives of ethnic minorities. The author of the article has drawn several conclusions, the main being that there were multiple reasons which prompted the rise of economic nationalism. They were primarily related to the economic, social, and cultural gap between ethnic minorities and Lithuanians. In particular, the protectionist economic policy (which exhibited certain aspects of ethnic discrimination) pursued by the Lithuanian government with the aim of ousting entrepreneurs of several nationalities from industrial, financial, and trade sectors widened the economic gap between ethnic minorities and Lithuanians. Another important reason for the development of economic nationalism was the building of a nation state, where ethnic minorities were perceived as an obstacle to an ethnocentric state, its economic modernization, and to Lithuanians competing with representatives of other nationalities. At the local level, ethnic conflicts would sometimes escalate into physical violence, essentially against one ethnic minority (Jews). This was, to some extent, affected by the anti-Semitic sentiment instigated in the press, the anti-Semitic activities of some organizations, and, partly, the protectionist economic policy pursued by the government that aimed to restrict or oust Jews from key businesses. The study of Lithuanian-Jewish relations from the perspective of economic nationalism expands the field of research on anti-Semitism as a phenomenon in interwar Lithuania. And looking ahead, we must show zero tolerance for the acts instigating national hatred and they must always entail criminal prosecution to prevent the nationalist sentiment (anti-Semitism) from spreading in our society.