Lithuanian national polymorphism and the evolution of politics

The article discusses the polymorphic state and processes of national consciousness. The main idea concerns the interrelation between the dynamics of symbolical forms of thinking and the dynamics of basic models of development of peoples. The two main approaches of symbolical analysis to the development of nations open the way for interpreting the plurality of national selfconsciousnesses. The idea of a polymorphic and dynamic interpretation of national consciousness opens possibilities for a new understanding of the historical development of nations as well as the evolution of politics. The same principles of polymorphic development of consciousness were elaborated by the sociologist and theorist of comparative analysis of civilizations Vytautas Kavolis. His ideas also correlated with the neoevolutionism of Julian Steward, Marshall Sahlins, and the multi-civilizational analysis of S. N. Eisenstadt. Lithuanian national polymorphism is based on different symbolical organizations and languages but on the same association with the name of a nation: Lithuania. Some contemporary Byelorussians (Litvins), Poles, Ukrainians, and Jews (former Litvaks) associate themselves with Lithuanians and tell similar myths and histories; use the same names; and develop similar national discourses. Many of their stories are related to the imaginary imperia of Lithuania, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Lithuanian civilization, and the network of World Lithuanians. The other issue for polymorphism is social stratifications and classes, their ideologies and imaginary constructions, all of which becomes increasingly important in the face of new migration processes. All these perspectives open up different possibilities for the evolution of the politics of groups involved in Lithuanian life and for using the model of the polymorphic state of national consciousness. [...]Vytauto Didžiojo universiteta