The Making of Modern Lithuania

by Balkelis; Tomas

• ISBN13: 9780415454704
• ISBN10: 0415454700
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2009-07-08
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

This book explores the making of modern Lithuania, arguing that, contrary to contemporary Lithuanian nationalist rhetoric, Lithuanian nationalism was modern and socially constructed in the period from the emergence of the Lithuanian national movement in the late nineteenth century to the birth of an independent state in 1918.

Table of Contents

Preface	p. xi
Abbreviations	p. xiii
Introduction	p. xv
Imperial periphery: Lithuanian provinces in late nineteenth century	p. 1
Social and economic conditions	p. 1
Russification	p. 4
The temperance movement and the rise of literacy	p. 7
The 'patriotic movement' of the Lithuanian gentry	p. 9
Provincials in the empire: the birth of the intelligentsia	p. 11
Question of origins	p. 11
Demographic and occupational features of the intelligentsia	p. 13
Generational conflict: sons versus parents	p. 14
The intelligentsia as a student movement	p. 18
Geographical displacement, centres of patriotic activity and 'the lost intelligentsia'	p. 24
Au¿ra and Varpas: first communities of the literati	p. 26
Political fragmentation before 1905	p. 31
Conclusion	p. 34
The making of the urban elite	p. 36
The Lithuanian intelligentsia between the city and the country	p. 36
In search of the city: the emergence of the intelligentsia's community in Vilna	p. 40
The impact of Vilniaus zinios	p. 44
Conclusion	p. 48
In search of the people: the intelligentsia in the 1905 revolution	p. 50
Revolution: nationalist or social?	p. 50
Social unrest and the patriotic elite prior to the All-Lithuanian assembly	p. 52
The Lithuanian intelligentsia and non-Lithuanian elites in 1905	p. 55
The intelligentsia and peasants in the All-Lithuanian assembly	p. 59
In the wake of the assembly	p. 63
Conclusion	p. 67
In search of national brides: the intelligentsia and the women's issue	p. 69
The origin of the women's debate	p. 69
Theory versus practice: experimental marriages, politics of bachelorhood and gentry salons	p. 73
From the making of nation-mothers to patriotic friendships	p. 77
Women's politics after 1905	p. 80
Conclusion	p. 83
The making of national culture: the intelligentsia and politics of culture, 1906-1914	p. 85
Cultural nationalism and nation-making	p. 85
The period of 'cultural work': general features and the issue of leadership	p. 86
The intelligentsia and writing	p. 90
Disciplinary cultural strategies	p. 94
Conclusion	p. 102
War, displacement and nation-building	p. 104
Early responses to war and the spread of the idea of independence	p. 105
Refugee politics: forging a national community	p. 109
Journey to homeland: repatriation and nation-making	p. 114
Conclusion	p. 118
Conclusions	p. 121
Notes	p. 127
Bibliography	p. 153
Index	p. 169
Table of Contents provided by Ingram. All Rights Reserved.