POLISH CULTURAL HERITAGE AS A BRIDGE OF IDENTITY: THE ROLE OF TRADITION IN PRESERVING TIES WITH THE DIASPORA
Keywords:
Polish diaspora, cultural heritage, identity, ethnic community, migrationAbstract
Polish cultural heritage constitutes an indispensable narrative in the dissemination of authentic and distinctive values aimed at strengthening ties with the extensive Polish diaspora worldwide. This paper seeks to further contribute to migration studies and critical heritage studies by adopting an anthropological perspective on the role and modalities of heritage use in the process of diaspora formation. Particular emphasis is placed on the integration of tangible and intangible heritage into a coherent set of cultural values, which plays a significant role in the constitution and preservation of a distinctive cultural identity. Through sociological and anthropological reflections on cultural identity, the authors, across several analytical iterations, elucidate the relationship between Polish cultural heritage and identity. The foundational level encompasses everyday practices, such as the use of language, while the subsequent level operates within the policy domain and is shaped by processes of diaspora integration and by efforts to implement cohesive activities that gather and sustain the Polish diaspora, taking into account multicultural determinants that vary in scope and intensity across different national contexts. The commemoration of Polish national and religious holidays, as well as the maintenance of cultural practices, alongside the continuous enhancement of the scope and quality of bilingual education with multigenerational participation, constitutes a relevant response to the strong pressures of globalization and assimilation. Further strengthening of ethnic identity, particularly in countries where the Polish immigrant community is not numerically significant, presupposes additional support and resources from the country of origin
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