TOŻSAMOŚĆ ŁEMKÓW U PROGU XXI WIEKU. CIĄGŁOŚĆ I ZMIANA

Issues related to identities and ethno-national identifications are more frequently described and analysed in the context of social dynamics. Researchers dealing with the theme point to the evolution of identities, change in their makeup related to the emergence of a different context of group functioning, and also changes connected with the nature of ethnic relations, from habitual relations to ideological relations. The article concerns the Lemko people’s identity. This is a borderline group of multi-dimensional cultural identity, divided in terms of identity. A number of the Lemko people consider themselves as Ukrainians, others consider the Lemko as a distinct ethnic group, while others see themselves as a Carphatorussian nation along with Belarusians, Russians and Ukrainians. The article consists of two main parts. The first part presents basic categories of identity that have been reconstructed on the basis of the research results. The study was carried out in the mid-nineties among representatives of this small east-Slavic community. The second part examines the dynamics of the Lemko identity. The dynamics show variability of its cultural content and a certain evolution of identity constructs created by the Lemko ethnic leaders. The text highlights new developments that emerged in the debate on identity after the Lemko were inscribed as a separate ethnic minority to the Act on National and Ethnic Minorities and Regional Language of 2005.