№ 18–19 (1–2) 2012 Abstracts and Keywords The Idea of Litva/Lietuva/Lithuania Alieh Dziarnovič (Aleh Dziarnovich). Search for Homeland: “Litva/Lithuania” and “Rus’” in Contemporary Belarusian Historiography In contemporary Belarusian historiography (since the end of the 1980s) the question of ethnopolitical structure of the Grand Duchy of Lithuanian became one of the canonical themes.
The main debatable issues are: 1) Location of the “annalistic Lithuania” (Mikola Jermalovič’s conception, its critics and adherents, Aliaksandr Kraŭcevič). 2) Correlation between terms “Žamojć” (Samogitia) and “Litva” (Lithuania) (Paval Urban). 3) Evolution of concepts “Litva” and “Rus’” during the 13 th -16 th centuries (Aliaksandr Rohalieŭ, Michail Spirydonaŭ, Viachaslaŭ Nasievič, Oleg Łatyszonek, Alieś Biely’s “Civilisation concept”). 4) Ethnic meaning of the terms (Ihar Čakvin and Paviel Cieraškovič, Hieorhi Halienčanka, Viachaslaŭ Nasievič, discussion between Ihar Маrzaliuk and Hienadź Sahanovič). The very fact of active discussions on “Litva” and “Rus’” problem proves that Belarusian history of the late Middle Ages and early Modern Time can be understood as interaction of these two factors. Exclusion of one of these factors from Belarusian history will make it absolutely different.
Keywords: Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Belarusian historiography, ethnicity, primordialism, constructivism Alieś Smaliančuk (Ales Smalianchuk). Formation of Kraj (Regionalism) Idea at the Beginning of the 20 th Century: First Narratives and First Authors Th e article considers the early stage of Kraj idea formation as a specific political and intellectual phenomenon in Belarus and Lithuania at the beginning of the 20 th century.
Th e article is based on early narratives and biographies of the two first representatives of Kraj idea: Raman Skirmunt and Michal Romer. The author of the article tries to answer the question about the personal motives, aims and feelings of the first adherents of the Kraj idea.
Besides, the author analyses ideas and concepts which were introduced by R. Skirmunt and M. Romer in the public discussions at the beginning of the 20 th century: understanding the region’s interests, historical tradition, the issue of ethnic relations; the idea of shared (Kraj) citizenship, common origin of nobility and peasants of the former Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the idea of “local patriotism” etc.
10 № 18–19 (1–2) 2012 Keywords: Kraj (regionalism) idea, Raman Skirmunt, Michal Romer, nationalism, history of ideas, anthropological history Magdalena Fronchek. Belarusian and Lithuanian Identity in Historical Concepts of Adam Honory Kirkor In this article the author has made an attempt to answer the question of Adam Honory Kirkor's self-identity, and to show it's Lithuanian and Belarusian components. She also considers whether Kirkor's historical concepts can be better understood within the context of Kraj (regionalism) idea. The idea of Kraj in Belarus and Lithuania was born at the beginning of the 20 th century, but already in the 19 th century it had its precursors among the intellectuals who identified themselves more with the territory where they lived than with their ethnic or cultural background. The adherents of Kraj idea claimed that all inhabitants of the historical Lithuania, regardless of their ethnical background, are “citizens of the region”, therefore they form one nation. Kirkor, who was born in Slivin estate in Mahilioŭ province (Belarus), considered himself a citizen of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania.
He advocated the creation of a Slavic federation, where Polish, Belarusian and Lithuanian nations would be equal, and each would preserve its language, culture and traditions.
Keywords: Adam Honory Kirkor, Belarusian identity, Lithuanian identity, Kraj (regionalism) idea, nationalism Darius Staliūnas. Th e Concept of Personal Cultural Autonomy in Lithuania and Belarus (Early 20 th Century) National movements in the former lands of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania had to some extent similar agenda – first of all the overthrow of the tsarist regime and democratisation.
At the same time conflicts between them were unavoidable: social conflict between Lithuanian (peasant) movement and Polish one, which mainly represented nobility;
cultural and linguistic conflict, where Lithuanians sought to diminish the role of the Polish language, and cultural and territorial conflict, because Lithuanians, Poles and Belarusians tried to gain the same territory. The solution for all these conflicts was presented by Kraj (regionalism) movement, which proposed to re-establish the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, but on democratic basis. At the same time there is almost no information as to how they intended to organise a peaceful co-existence of different nationalities in that state. This article is devoted to the concept of national personal autonomy, proposed by one of the leaders of that movement, Tadeusz Wróblewski (Tadas Vrublevskis), as a mechanism for solving national problems. The statement is made in the article that this idea could hardly find supporters at the beginning of the 20 th century and it would face serious difficulties in implementation.
Keywords: the adherents of Kraj idea, Tadeusz Wróblewski, Kraj (regionalism) idea, Lithuanian movement 11 № 18–19 (1–2) 2012 Leszek Zasztowt. From a Capital to a Province. The Place of Wilno in the Concept of the “Eastern Borderlands” of the Polish Historic Narrative The article considers the image and the symbolic status of Wilno as the former capital of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Polish historiography and literature of the 19 th -20 th century. The gradual decline of Wilno’s image as the capital is observed – the mentioning of the city’s political importance by historians and writers gradually decreases while the city is simultaneously included into the general image of the “Eastern Borderland”. As a result of the romanticism influence in the 19 th century, Wilno together with the whole “Borderlands” becomes a mystical and mysterious land. This image still strongly influences the understanding of the city’s history and, in broader context, the history of Lithuania and Belarus.
Keywords: Wilno, Lithuania, Belarus, romanticism, capital, “Borderlands” Kiryl Karliuk. Dynasty and Dominions. Visual Representations of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the Royal Propaganda of the House of Vasa At the turn of the 16 th century European monarchies faced serious historical challenges that resulted in multilateral crisis of the 17 th century. One of the responses was to find a way for political stability, as well as the creation of the new forms of legitimation of royal power by means of visual practices. Polish Commonwealth and the Vasa dynasty were not exceptions here. The article is devoted to the Grand Duchy’s of Lithuania place in the structure of the ceremonies and visual symbols of royal power; it shows how this role was transformed due to formal and informal status of Lithuania, royal title, traditions and its political weight.
Keywords: visual representation, legitimation, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, propaganda, the House of Vasa The Idea of Nation Andrej Asadčy (Andrei Asadchy). Th e Concept of Belarusian Nation and Politics in the Late Soviet Period (1986-1990) Th e article considers the concepts of Belarusian nation which were proposed by different political and intellectual circles in Belarus in the late Soviet period. The author suggests the analysis of the concept of the “‘Soviet people”, its role in the second half of the 1980-s and the relations of this concept with the ideas of Soviet statehood and Russification policy. It was an ethnocultural concept concentrated on preserving the national language, historical memory and cultural heritage which became the main alternative to the “Soviet” understanding of the Belarusian nation. In the end of the 1980-s the concept of the “Republican patriotism” appeared. It sought to restore the old Soviet dogma and understood the Belarusian nation as a “community of citizens”.
Keywords: Belarusian nation, national identity, nationalism, patriotism, “the Soviet people” 12 № 18–19 (1–2) 2012 Images of the Past Aliaksej Lastoŭski (Aliaksei Lastouski). A Short Genealogy: Historical Past in Public Speeches of Belarusian Officials Th e article examines the processes of formation and translation of the images of authority, people and “aliens” in public speeches of Belarusian officials during the period of liberalisation (2008-2010). The hypothesis is checked, according to which liberalisation can be found in public speeches of officials, who tried to escape isolation strategy and reduce the aggression towards the "aliens". The author concludes that Belarusian authorities understood the liberalisation quite narrowly , which finally led to the collapse of this policy.
Keywords: political identity, public speeches, Belarusian officials, liberalization Raman Voranaŭ (Raman Voranau). Th e Rise of Skaryna. How Intellectuals in the Russian Empire of the 19 th Century Affected the Image of the Belarusian National Hero Francišak Skaryna, the first Belarusian book printer, is the most well-known historical figure among Belarusian people nowadays. Active studying of his personality and attempts of its popularisation started at the beginning of the 19 th century in the Russian Empire discourse. During a lapse of a hundred years Skaryna’s image was associated with a Slavic translator, the first all-Russians printing pioneer, as well as a Catholic poloniser and an Orthodox enlightener. The article analyses the evolution of the fi rst book printer’s image in academic and journalistic texts of the Russian Empire. The author tries to answer why Francišak Skaryna was not transformed into Russian national hero and what determined his “Belarusian future”.
Keywords: Francišak Skaryna, the Russian Empire, intellectual history, the first book printer, national hero Ivan Lysiuk. The Myth of the “Great Lithuania” and the Images of the “Warrior” , the “Priest” and the “Farmer” in Modern Lithuanian and Belarusian Music Th e article focuses on the heritage of the Great Lithuania – cultural, religious, historical – as well as forms which it takes on the musical scene of contemporary Lithuania and Belarus.
Th e author mentions the emerging of Balto-Slavic (Cryvian) segment of the Belarusian scene which proposes an alternative Belarusian national identity. Great Lithuanian heritage is examined through the prism of three archetypes. First, it is a warrior archetype, which most vividly manifested itself on the pagan metal scene. Second, it is a priest archetype, which finds its expression in the music of metal bands, as well as groups playing archaic, ritual folk. Th ird, it is a farmer archetype, represented in the music of a number of neo- and post-folk groups.
Keywords: music, neopaganism, archetypes, Litva, Cryvija 13 № 18–19 (1–2) 2012 Political Institutions Dorota Michaluk. Jazep Varonka’s Government of the BPR: Internal and External Activities On 9 March 1918 the Belarusian People’s Republic was proclaimed and on 25 March its independence was declared. The first government of the BPR was headed by Jazep Varonka.
Th e government’s activities were limited due to German occupation of the territories where it existed and German vision of it as merely a national representation body. The most significant achievements of the BPR government are activities in the field of culture and education as well as attempts to establish local administration. Alongside with this, the government did not succeed in winning the international recognition of the independence.
It failed to create Belarusian armed forces which would be able to establish the control over the territory of the proclaimed BPR.
Keywords: political history, BPR, government, Belarusian movement, Yazep Varonka Discussion Alieh Latyšonak (Aleh Latyshonak). Th e Myth of “Tutejšyja” Th e debatable article considers the origin and evolution of the concept of “tutejšyja (the locals)” within the Belarusian historical and intellectual context. The hypothesis is made that the concept of “tutejšyja” is mainly a Polish intellectual construction. The functioning of the “tutejšyja” as a form of national identity is observed only in Wilno region whereas this concept was actively used by the Polish authorities during the interwar period in order to manipulate the results of population census data in the Western Belarus. Besides, the author analyses peculiarities of interpretation of the concept “tutejšyja” in modern Belarusian intellectual discussions. The tendency to attach to these concepts a high cultural and intellectual status is recognized.
Keywords: “tutejšyja”, “ localism”, Belarusian national identity, Western Paleśsie, intellectual discussions Anton Miranovič (Anton Miranovich). Religious Tolerance on the PolishBelarusian Frontier: Historical Experience The article considers the historical experience of religious tolerance on the PolishBelarusian frontier. In particular, the author analyses the influences of the Byzantine and Rus’ religious tradition on the Polish culture of the 14 th -15 th century, the establishment of unique religious variety in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 15 th century, interaction of different confessions with the ruling elite, political and legal institutions. The author notes that the main factor of religious peace destruction was the Union of Brest and CounterReformation which were combined with wars and open confrontation between the religious communities. The attempts to restore the religious equality in the last decades of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth’s existence did not lead to any result. Nevertheless, the 14 № 18–19 (1–2) 2012 tolerance traditions did not entirely disappear and had a great influence on the development of national cultures on the Belarusian-Polish frontier.
Keywords: religious tolerance, Orthodoxy, Catholicism, Belarusian-Polish frontier, sacred history Reviews (Political History) Andrej Valodźkin (Andrei Valodzkin). Th e Chronicles of Abandoned Regionalism. Baltijos valstybių vienybės idėja ir praktika 1918–1940 metais.
Dokumentų rinkinys (2008) The review of the collection of documents which illustrate the development of the idea of unity of Baltic states in the interwar period.
Keywords: Baltic region, regionalism, interwar history, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia Andruś Unučak (Andrus Unuchak). Lithuanian Book about Russification of Belarusians. Staliūnas, Darius (2007). Making Russians. Meaning and Practice of Russification in Lithuania and Belarus after 1863 Th e review of the Lithuanian historian Darius Staliūnas’ book which considers numerous evidences of the Russification policy towards national communities of Lithuania and Belarus in the Russian Empire in the 19 th century.
Keywords: Russifi cation, national policy, the Russian Empire, Lithuania, Belarus Siarhej Tokć (Siarhei Tokc). Th e Reverse Union. Dolbilov, Mihail and Staliūnas, Darius (2010). The Reverse Union: from the History of the Relationship between Catholicism and Orthodoxy in the Russian Empire in 1840-1873 Th e review presents a mutual book of a Lithuanian and a Russian historian which is devoted to the projects of “reverse union” (joining the Catholic Church to the Orthodox Church) in the Russian Empire in the 19 th century.
Keywords: sacred history, Catholicism, Orthodoxy, Church Union, the Russian Empire Dźmitry Šavialioŭ (Dzmitry Shavialou). On the Lithuanian-Jewish Political Contacts. A Pragmatic Alliance: Jewish-Lithuanian Political Cooperation at the Beginning of the 20 th Century (2011). Eds. Vladas Sirutavičiusand Darius Staliūnas Th e review examines a collection of articles devoted to the issue of Lithuanian-Jewish contacts in the early 20 th century. The articles for this book were specially written by the well-known researchers from Lithuania, Israel and the U.S.
Keywords: Lithuania, Lithuanians, Jews, Poles, political parties 15 № 18–19 (1–2) 2012 Reviews (Ethnography) Źmicier Skvarčeŭski (Zmicer Skvarcheuski). Sacred Country in the Center of Europe. Dučyc, Liudmila and Klimkovič, Iryna (2011). The Sacral Geography of Belarus The reviewed book presents the results of studies in the field of sacred geography of Belarus carried out during the recent years. This book is the first attempt of regular research of landscape objects and archeological monuments in the context of traditional culture. Much attention is given to monuments of pre-Christian culture on the territory of Belarus.
Keywords: sacral geography, paganism, mythology, traditional culture