This book emerged from the need to address a fundamental question facing the historiography of a newly liberated Lithuania: what is its essence, and in which direction should it develop? A simple answer might suggest that the Soviet era has ended, that its distortions of historical scholarship have disappeared, and that whatever was authentic and valuable has naturally taken root in the soil of independence and continues to flourish. From this perspective, one could proceed calmly with established scholarly work or, alternatively, pursue a radical renewal guided by a chosen model. Such interpretation, however, overlooks - or forgets - the fact that, institutionally, personally, and in terms of cultural traditions, Lithuanian historiography remains, in many respects, shaped by the Soviet experience. It is therefore essential to undertake a conscious and critical assessment of this legacy, distinguishing what should be rejected from what may still serve as a foundation. Only by “settling accounts” with the Soviet past can historiography, with intellectual clarity and moral confidence, seek viable paths toward renewal.
Edited by Alfredas Bumblauskas, Nerijus Šepetys