The Failure of the Language Policy in Belarus
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The Ruthenian Journey from the Carpathian Mountains to the Panonian Plain* M
182 2014, № 2 (36) UDC 94(497.1) THE RUTHENIAN JOURNEY FROM THE CARPATHIAN MOUNTAINS TO THE PANONIAN PLAIN* M. Fejsa Faculty of Philosophy, Department of Ruthenian Studies University of Novi Sad (Serbia) e-mail: [email protected] Scopus Author ID: 56031169500 Abstract Although the Ruthenians / Rusyns in Serbia (less than 15 000 members of the Ruthenian (Rusyn national community today) were cut off from their brethren in the Carpathian area they have managed to survive on the Panonian Plain. Comparing to the Ruthenians in all other countries the Ruthenians in Serbia have the highest level of minority rights. The Serbian / Vojvodinian authorities do their best to implement international conventions and there is a hope for the Ruthenians in Serbia / Vojvodina to preserve their culture, language and national identity in the future. Keywords: Ruthenians in Serbia / Vojvodina, Carpathian homeland, ethnocultural development, Ruthenian language, national minorities For centuries Ruthenians / Rusyns lived within the borders of Hungarian Kingdom. They lived in the northeast Hungarian counties, namely, in Zemplen, Saros, Abauj-Torna, Borsod, Szabolcs, Ung, Ugocsa, Maramaros and Gemer. Some 260 years ago, groups of Ruthenians began migrating south from their homeland in the Carpathian mountains to the Srem and Bačka regions of what is now Vojvodina in Serbia and Eastern Slavonia in Croatia (Фејса, 2010: 112-113). After the defeat and retreat of the Ottoman Empire from Bačka, Srem and Banat in 1699, the Austro-Hungarian authorities needed more population in the south of their state and supported colonization of Germans, Hungarians, Slovaks and others, among them Ruthenians as well (Gavrilović, 1977: 153). -
2. Historical, Cultural and Ethnic Roots1
2. HISTORICAL, CULTURAL AND ETHNIC ROOTS1 General features of ethnic identity evolution history, to develop autonomous state structures, in the eastern part of Europe their lives have mostly been determined by out- side forces with diverse geopolitical interests. Differences may be observed between Eastern The uncertain political situation of past cen- and Western Europe in terms of the ethnogenesis turies gave rise – along the linguistic, cultural of the peoples and the development of their eth- and political fault lines – to several ethnic groups nic identity. In the eastern half of the continent, with uncertain identities, disputed allegiances rather than be tied to the confines of a particular and divergent political interests. Even now, there state, community identity and belonging have exist among the various groups overlaps, differ- tended to emerge from the collective memory of ences and conflicts which arose in earlier periods. a community of linguistic and cultural elements The characteristic features of the groups have not or, on occasion, from the collective memory of a been placed in a clearly definable framework. state that existed in an earlier period (Romsics, In the eastern half of Europe, the various I. 1998). The evolution of the eastern Slavic and ethnic groups are at different stages of devel- Baltic peoples constitutes a particular aspect of opment in terms of their ethnic identity. The this course. We can, therefore, gain insights into Belarusian people, who speak an eastern Slavic the historical foundations of the ethnic identity language, occupy a special place among these of the inhabitants of today’s Belarus – an identity groups. -
Belarus – the Unfulfilled Phenomena: the Prospects of Social Mobilization
14 Jovita Pranevičiūtė* Institute of International Relations and Political Science, University of Vilnius Belarus – the Unfulfilled Phenomena: The Prospects of Social Mobilization For more than ten years Belarus has be under authoritarian rule and it has been difficult to explain this phenomenon. The rhetoric of the Belarusian elites – governing and oppositional – is analyzed as the main tool of the struggle to mobilize society for collec- tive action in the political fight. The rhetoric of the ruling elite, and also the opposition, is analyzed in three dimensions: how competing elites are talking about the glorious past; the degraded present; and the utopian future. Through collective action, the nation will reverse the conditions that have caused its present degradation and recover its original harmonious essence. The main aim of this study is to demonstrate that in short - and perhaps even in the medium-run - the Belarusian president Alexander Lukahenko will remain in power due to the successful employment of the trinomial rhetorical structure. The conclusions can be shocking meaning that the ruling elite has been able to persuade society that the glorious past has been realized in the times of Soviet Union and at the moment Belarus is living in the conditions of utopian future, i.e. future is a reality, nonetheless the short period of the opposition ruin rule in the nineties and negative actions of opposition in nowadays. While the utopian reality is based at least on the ideas of economical survival and believes that all the aims of society have been reached already, the opposition has no chance to mobilize a critical part of society to ensure the support to its own ideas and to get in to power. -
The Language Question Debate 16Th Century Ruthenian Lands(Squillace) 23
CORE Metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk The language question debate 16th century Ruthenian lands(Squillace) 23 The language question debate 16th century Ruthenian lands (Latin, Polish Church Slavonic) Caterina Squillace The Ruthenian language question, as other similar debates over "national" linguistic tools during the age of Reformation and Counter-Reformation, certainly shows, though indirectly, some of the typical characters of Italian Renaissance debate known as "Questionedella lingua". It is also, however, a stage in the long-lasting discussion over languages intended for sacral or missionary purposes which represents a peculiarity of Western and Eastern Church. In articulating its policy toward the use of various languages, the Church employed the concepts of sacred and apostolic languages. In simplest terms, the Church encouraged the use of apostolic languages to spread the Word among the nations and to instruct the common people. The Latin church insisted that a sacral language should be employed in celebrating the solemn portions of the Mass. When it comes to Eastern Orthodox Church five languages with different levels of dignitas played a role in the Ruthenian debates of the late sixteenth and early seventeenth century. They were Greek, Latin, Slavonic, Polish and Ruthenian ("ruski"/"ruskij"). Riccardo Picchio, one of the greatest specialists on the subject (Professor in Rome and at Yale) has shown that Church doctrine on the use of sacred and apostolic language provided the terms of discussion for the first -
Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past: a Comparative Study on Memory Management in the Region
CBEES State of the Region Report 2020 Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past A Comparative Study on Memory Management in the Region Published with support from the Foundation for Baltic and East European Studies (Östersjstiftelsen) Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past A Comparative Study on Memory Management in the Region December 2020 Publisher Centre for Baltic and East European Studies, CBEES, Sdertrn University © CBEES, Sdertrn University and the authors Editor Ninna Mrner Editorial Board Joakim Ekman, Florence Frhlig, David Gaunt, Tora Lane, Per Anders Rudling, Irina Sandomirskaja Layout Lena Fredriksson, Serpentin Media Proofreading Bridget Schaefer, Semantix Print Elanders Sverige AB ISBN 978-91-85139-12-5 4 Contents 7 Preface. A New Annual CBEES Publication, Ulla Manns and Joakim Ekman 9 Introduction. Constructions and Instrumentalization of the Past, David Gaunt and Tora Lane 15 Background. Eastern and Central Europe as a Region of Memory. Some Common Traits, Barbara Trnquist-Plewa ESSAYS 23 Victimhood and Building Identities on Past Suffering, Florence Frhlig 29 Image, Afterimage, Counter-Image: Communist Visuality without Communism, Irina Sandomirskaja 37 The Toxic Memory Politics in the Post-Soviet Caucasus, Thomas de Waal 45 The Flag Revolution. Understanding the Political Symbols of Belarus, Andrej Kotljarchuk 55 Institutes of Trauma Re-production in a Borderland: Poland, Ukraine, and Lithuania, Per Anders Rudling COUNTRY BY COUNTRY 69 Germany. The Multi-Level Governance of Memory as a Policy Field, Jenny Wstenberg 80 Lithuania. Fractured and Contested Memory Regimes, Violeta Davoliūtė 87 Belarus. The Politics of Memory in Belarus: Narratives and Institutions, Aliaksei Lastouski 94 Ukraine. Memory Nodes Loaded with Potential to Mobilize People, Yuliya Yurchuk 106 Czech Republic. -
(Ruthenian Or Rusyn) Language in Poland Lemkos
The 17th Meeting of the Baltic Division of the United Nations Group of Experts on Geographical Names Warszawa, 29 June – 01 July 2015 Maciej Zych Commission on Standardization of Geographical Names Outside the Republic of Poland Romanization rules for the Lemko (Ruthenian or Rusyn) language in Poland Lemkos (Ruthenians or Rusyns) is an ethnic minority which has been recognized in Poland on the basis of the Act of 6th January 2005 on national and ethnic minorities and on the regional languages. The act mentions, in addition to the Lemkos, 9 national minorities: Belorussian, Czech, Lithuanian, German, Armenian, Russian, Slovak, Ukrainian, and Jewish; 3 ethnic minorities – Karait, Roma, and Tartar; as well as one regional language – the Kashubian language. The Act lays down, among others, that traditional names in a minority language for localities, physiographic objects and streets may be used as “additional names” alongside geographic names established in the Polish language. To date (as of 1st June 2015), additional names have been introduced in 1204 localities and parts of them located in 57 communes. There were introduced: 27 Belarusian names, 359 German names, 779 Kashubian names, 9 Lemko names, and 30 Lithuanian names. Additional names in minority languages appear on road signs, they are also used on some maps. Pursuant to the Regulation of the Minister of Administration and Digitization of 14th February 2012 on the national register of geographical names, the Surveyor General of Poland shall maintain the database of the National Register of Geographical Names. In the Register, among others, officially adopted names in minority languages shall be listed. -
Americans and Russians Are Mostly Disinterested and Disengaged with Each Other
Americans and Russians Are Mostly Disinterested and Disengaged with Each Other Brendan Helm, Research Assistant, Public Opinion, Chicago Council on Global Affairs Arik Burakovsky, Assistant Director, Russia and Eurasia Program, The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University Lily Wojtowicz, Research Associate, Public Opinion, Chicago Council on Global Affairs August 2019 The last few years have seen a substantial deterioration in relations between the United States and Russia. The international crisis over Ukraine, Russia’s interference in the 2016 US presidential election, and US sanctions against Russia have all contributed to the growing acrimony. Recent surveys conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs and the Levada Analytical Center reveal that large majorities of both Russians and Americans now view their countries as rivals. But in the midst of heightened tensions between Moscow and Washington, how do regular citizens of each country view one another? A joint project conducted by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, the Levada Analytical Center, and The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University shows that despite the perception of rivalry between their countries, Russians’ and Americans’ views on the people of the other country are more favorable. However, the survey results also show that Russians and Americans are not particularly curious about each other, they rarely follow news about one another, and the majority of each group has never met someone from the other. Nonetheless, self-reported interests from each side in arts and sciences suggest that there are non-political paths toward warmer relations. Key Findings • 68 percent of Americans view Russians either very or fairly positively, while 48 percent of Russians have those views of Americans. -
The Use of Books in 16Th-Century Vilnius
TERMINUS t. 15 (2013), z. 2 (27), s. 167–184 doi:10.4467/20843844TE.13.013.1570 www.ejournals.eu/Terminus THE USE OF BOOKS IN 16TH-CENTURY VILNIUS JAKUB NIEDźWIEDź Uniwersytet Jagielloński, Kraków Abstract The main goal of the paper is to answer the question of what was unique about the use of books in Vilnius between 1522 and 1610. The reason to take a closer look at the capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania is the fact that it has always been a multi-cultural, multi-ethnic and multi-religious city. This observation allows the author to assume that the use of books there could have been different than in other European cities of the time. To find possible answers to the question posed, the author traces the changes in production, distribution and reading of books in the city. The research is based on sev- eral sorts of sources, such as printed books, manuscripts and documents from Vilnius archives (mainly the municipal archive, the Catholic chapter, the castle court etc.). He was supported by contemporary studies about early modern Vilnius scriptoria and printing houses (Kawecka-Gryczowa, Topolska, Nikalaieu), bookbinders (Laucevičius), book writing (Ulčinaitė, Narbutienė, Narbutas) and the history of the city (Frick). At the beginning of the paper the author recalls the main facts about Vilnius in the 16th century. The city had increasingly grown in importance as a political, economical and cultural centre of the Jagiellonian monarchy. The central part, divided in four chronologically arranged chapters, focuses on several problems, among them: the beginnings of Cyrillic prints and Skaryna’s print- ing house, languages and alphabets of books (Latin, Ruthenian, Polish, Lithuanian, German, Hebrew, Yiddish and Arabic), book production, dissemination, storage and reading. -
Regime and Churches: What Is Therebetween? Religion In
Issue 8 (38), 2013 RELIGION IN BELARUS: LIMITED INDEPENDENCE Since the concept of secular state has become a issue of “The Bell” is dedicated to answer these standard in a Western world long time ago, the questions. position of the Church is not very much discussed while speaking about the political issues. How- In the first article Anton Radniankou analyses the ever, there are tendencies of the rising interest of three biggest confessions in Belarus and reveals the Putin’s regime on involving Russian Orthodox their connection with the regime. He states, that Church to strengthening its power. while the Orthodox Church is the most familiar Anton Radniankou is a project to the government, Protestants are the least loyal manager of the Local Foundation And we might find similar approach of the Belar- to A.Lukashenka. “Interakcia”. He also edits intellec- usian regime. A.Lukashenka calls the Orthodox tual online magazine IdeaBY. Church as the main ideologist of the statehood, In the second article Natallia Vasilevich takes while remaining a non-believer – some kind of a deeper look into relations between Orthodox Natallia Vasilevich is a politi- strange “Orthodox atheist” composition. More- Church and the regime. She finds out that there cal scientist, lawyer and theolo- over, the Russian Orthodox Church authorities are different groups among the Church branches, gian. She is director of Centre have a direct influence on the Belarusian Church, which position ranges from pro-Russian to pro- “Ecumena” and editor of website forming its shape and ideology. It is clear that Nationalist wings. All in all, it is mostly influ- “Carkwa”. -
English Version of This Report Is the Only Official Document
Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights REPUBLIC OF BELARUS PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS 23 September 2012 OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission Final Report Warsaw 14 December 2012 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................1 II. INTRODUCTION AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS....................................................3 III. POLITICAL BACKGROUND.........................................................................................3 IV. LEGAL FRAMEWORK AND ELECTORAL SYSTEM..............................................4 V. ELECTION ADMINISTRATION ...................................................................................5 A. CENTRAL ELECTION COMMISSION.....................................................................................6 B. DISTRICT AND PRECINCT ELECTION COMMISSIONS..........................................................7 VI. VOTER REGISTRATION ...............................................................................................7 VII. CANDIDATE REGISTRATION .....................................................................................8 VIII. ELECTION CAMPAIGN ...............................................................................................10 A. CAMPAIGN ENVIRONMENT................................................................................................10 B. CAMPAIGN FINANCE..........................................................................................................12 -
Evolution of the Belarusian National Movement in The
EVOLUTION OF THE BELARUSIAN NATIONAL MOVEMENT IN THE PAGES OF PERIODICALS (1914-1917) By Aliaksandr Bystryk Submitted to Central European University Nationalism Studies Program In partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts Advisor: Professor Maria Kovacs Secondary advisor: Professor Alexei Miller CEU eTD Collection Budapest, Hungary 2013 Abstract Belarusian national movement is usually characterised by its relative weakness delayed emergence and development. Being the weakest movement in the region, before the WWI, the activists of this movement mostly engaged in cultural and educational activities. However at the end of First World War Belarusian national elite actively engaged in political struggles happening in the territories of Western frontier of the Russian empire. Thus the aim of the thesis is to explain how the events and processes caused by WWI influenced the national movement. In order to accomplish this goal this thesis provides discourse and content analysis of three editions published by the Belarusian national activists: Nasha Niva (Our Field), Biełarus (The Belarusian) and Homan (The Clamour). The main findings of this paper suggest that the anticipation of dramatic social and political changes brought by the war urged national elite to foster national mobilisation through development of various organisations and structures directed to improve social cohesion within Belarusian population. Another important effect of the war was that a part of Belarusian national elite formulated certain ideas and narratives influenced by conditions of Ober-Ost which later became an integral part of Belarusian national ideology. CEU eTD Collection i Table of Contents Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 1. Between krajowość and West-Russianism: The Development of the Belarusian National Movement Prior to WWI ..................................................................................................... -
S E M I N a R Use of Fresh Groundwater for Drinking Water Supply of Population in Emergency Situations
IUGS-GEM Commission on Geoscience for Environmental Management S E M I N A R Use of Fresh Groundwater for Drinking Water Supply of Population in Emergency situations Field trip guide 2015 June 3–5 History of water supply in Vilnius – from springs Vilnius, Lithuania to centralized systems S E M I N A R Use of Fresh Groundwater for Drinking Water Supply of Population in Emergency situations FIELD TRIP GUIDE History of water supply in Vilnius – from springs to centralized systems 2015 June 3–5 Vilnius, Lithuania FIELD TRIP GUIDE Seminar „Use of Fresh Groundwater for Drinking Water Supply of Population in Emergency situations“, 2015, June 3–5, Vilnius, Lithuania: Field Trip Guide: History of water supply in Vilnius – from springs to centralized systems / Compiled by: Satkūnas J.; Lithuanian Geological Survey. – Vilnius: LGT, 2015. – 27 (1) p.: iliustr. – Bibliogr. str. gale ORGANISED BY: Lithuanian Geological Survey (LGT) Vilnius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences IUGS-GEM EuroGeoSurveys Published by Lithuanian Geological Survey Compiled by: Jonas Satkūnas Layout: Indrė Virbickienė © Lietuvos geologijos tarnyba Vilnius, 2015 2 FIELD TRIP GUIDE The Working Group on Drinking Water of the IUGS-GEM Commission Leader Prof. I. Zektser SEMINAR Use of Fresh Groundwater for Drinking Water Supply of Population in Emergency situations DATE: June 3–5, 2015 WORKSHOP VENUE: Vilnius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences. M. K. Čiurlionio str. 21/27, Vilnius, Lithuania WORKSHOP LANGUAGES: English, Russian P R O G R A M M E June 3. Arrival, informal meeting, ice-break party (16.00 h) June 4. Agenda: 9.30 – Opening by Prof.