Polish-Lithuanian conflict in the end of XIXth century – beginning of the XXth century: revival of old concepts

Abstract

This article confronts recent debates in Lithuanian as well Polish historiography claiming that a conflict that arose in late 19th – early 20th century in Lithuania should be labelled not as a confrontation between Lithuanian and Polish Nationalisms but rather as a clash between „Old” and „New” Lithuanians. This article presents different types of collective identity in the period under discussion and claims that part of those persons who might be identified as „Old Lithuanians” were in a discussion with modern Lithuanian Nationalisms, but not in a conflict with it, and others used that argument about being Lithuanians just instrumentally. The main axis of the conflict lay between the modern Lithuanian movement and the modern Polish National movement.