UCL School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London, 7th Annual International Postgraduate Conference

Inclusion Exclusion

16-18th February 2006

Friday 17 February  10:00 – 11:30: Panel D3: Microregions and Subcultures

Małgorzata Deja (University of Warsaw): ‘Displaced and local: assimilation and integration among people displaced from the region of Lublin (Poland) to Polesie Wolynskie (Ukraine)’

The paper is result of a research conducted in Polesie in the years 2002-2003. It is an attempt of analyzing life of the Ukrainians replaced from Poland to Ukrainian territories of the SU. Its aim is to find factors shaping relations between replaced and local people and influencing the assimilation processes in community created by the two groups. Based on a small sample, the paper addresses a broader question of inclusion and exclusion in the Eastern Europe. The region was scene for massive forced migrations few decades ago – and their consequences still shape its cultural and political image.

The migration which led to the birth of the community was a mass and compulsory replacement, organized and imposed by the authorities. People being replaced did not know the their destination which hindered the future process of inclusion into the receiving community.

Relations between replaced and local people are strongly influenced by the ‘cultural luggage’ brought to Polesie 60 years ago. Replaced formed a relatively numerous group whose members were united by common experiences and concerns. They realize that their culture is not identical with the local culture and differences concern sometimes substantial matters (e.g. language, religion). It leads to conviction of their superiority over the locals. What is more, although part of the earlier lines of division disappears, some new emerge. It is effect of change in the political situation which gives the replaced people chance to become a group differing not only in the cultural, but also in the economically - legal sense.

The analysis of the collected material allows for formulating some conclusions. The replaced, in spite of the lapse of time, perceive their situation as imposed and strange. They take advantage of the new political situation differently than the locals. Structural assimilation is hence only partially completed. Secondly, although the acculturation proceeds in two directions, the cultural differences are still visible. Thirdly, there exist subjective differences. Replaced - as a group - are convinced of their distinctiveness, so the psychological inclusion can not be quickly completed. Hence it is too early to speak of full assimilation in the community. The present situation is rather an example of partial assimilation. In case of people born before the replacement the process will probably not deepen any more. Situation of the next generations is different. However, its representatives were not included in the research because of their declarations of ‘being locals’.

Polesie is a micro-picture of Europe with its changing boundaries and ongoing processes of identity building. It shows how processes of inclusion and exclusion shape life of individuals and groups. The three-stage process of migration (‘there’, ‘on the way’ and ‘here’) can be seen as a rite de passage - a good way to start a new approach in analysis of the Conference subject.

©2005, Last updated Sept-05