Borderland of Nations, Religions and Cultures – the Case of Podlasie

Abstract

<jats:p>Podlasie, a historical and geographical region in north-eastern Poland, serves as both an external (interstate, European Union) and internal (ethnic, religious, linguistic, cultural) borderland. The primary aim of the article is to present historical and political conditions, national and cultural diversification of the Podlasie region, an analysis of current changes in ethnic and religious structure of the inhabitants as well as analysis of the consequences of changes of geopolitical circumstances in mutual relationships between different communities. Borderlands, especially those highly diverse in terms of nationality, religion, language and culture, are often identified with unstable, conflict-prone areas with past and present antagonism between nations sharing them. This belief has intensified over the last few decades when nationalisms, separatist tendencies and historical conflicts got sparked again in numerous regions of Central and Eastern Europe. However, not all European borderlands have to be stereotypically identified with areas of conflict, resentment and even hatred among the peoples inhabiting them. This is the case, among others, in Podlasie, where there are centuries-old traditions of cohabitation of diverse communities.</jats:p>

Boundaries Are Blurred: Wild Food Plant Knowledge Circulation across the Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian Borderland

“…The present-day Polish-Lithuanian-Belarusian triangle has been subjected to a series of border shifts. For centuries, the triangle between Poland, Lithuania, and Belarus has been a multi-linguistic, multi-religious, and multi-cultural area to a certain extent [ 28 , 29 ]. Historical conditions and its geographically peripheral location have made this region a place of cohabitation of various ethnic groups: Poles, Lithuanians, Belarusians, Ukrainians, Jews, Russians (predominantly Old-Believers), Tatars, Roma, etc.…”

Attending to cross-border sociocultural competence in bilingual programs in the Polish-Czech border region: An exploratory study

“…Throughout history, there have been many changes to borders. With these changes, the intermixing of different nationalities, cultures, languages, religions, and identities, has led to the gradual development of distinctly diverse border communities [ 10 , 11 ]. The integration of cultures and the development of various types of cross-border relationships (e.g., interpersonal, social, and economic) provides opportunities for members of border communities to develop border-specific values, customs, traditions, and social norms.…”

“…The complex and fluid identities exhibited by inhabitants of cross-border communities suggest that unique sociocultural competences are necessary to engage in contexts where cultures and languages intertwine. Border-specific sociocultural competence facilitates bilingual and bicultural interactions in an area where two or more languages and cultures intertwine and where there is an economic and social need to learn from, and with, one another as the result of complex geopolitical processes [ 11 , 12 ]. The development of such competencies allows communities living in border regions to take full advantage of the opportunities offered by life on both sides of the border, opportunities that are essential for the development of cross-border cooperation and for counteracting intergroup tensions arising from the marginalization of certain racial, ethnic, linguistic, and cultural groups [ 16 ].…”