Author

Milena Vico, University of Notre Dame Australia

Lithuanian diaspora: An interview study on the preservation or loss of Pre-World War Two traditional culture among Lithuanian Catholic Émigrés in Western Australia and Siberia, in comparison with Lithuanians in their homeland

Date of Award

2008

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Schools and Centres

Arts & Sciences

First Supervisor

Dr Tony Ryan

Abstract

This study is designed to ascertain the cultural changes which have taken place over a period of fifty years within three distinct Lithuanian communities. Of these three, two communities –one in Western Australia and the other in Siberia –were part of the post-World War Two (WWII) diaspora. The third is still living in Lithuania. I set out to determine the extent to which, during the period of fifty years covered by this study, cultural practices, values and beliefs have been maintained and lost by those who participated in the interviews carried out as part of the methodology of this thesis. This study is an historical empirical investigation which employs qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. In this way, it determines the extent of the retention or loss of those core markers which I have identified as constituting the essence of the pre-war Lithuanian culture. Presentation of the study’s research and findings has been divided into four parts: • an overview of the history of Lithuania from its origins to the end of WWII in 1945; • a description of the core markers of the pre-war Lithuanian culture in order to set the context; • three detailed descriptive accounts, one for each group investigated, to examine the difficulties and challenges faced by the participants in each group in preserving their native culture; and • a conclusion which draws comparisons between the three groups in terms of the study’s hypotheses regarding retention or loss of the chief features of the pre-war Lithuanian culture over the set time period. The findings show that each of the groups investigated has retained at least some of their pre-war cultural heritage. The group which maintains the strongest sense of ‘Lithuanian-ness’ was the group still living in Lithuania. The two groups of the Lithuanian diaspora in Western Australia and Siberia, although retaining some common core of the pre-war culture, are very distinctive. The Lithuanian group in Western Australia, has retained a sense of ‘Lithuanian-ness’, but has also adapted to such an extent to the dominant culture that the traditions, values and beliefs now reflect the new environment. Therefore, although the old émigrés were born in Lithuania, they have not been able to preserve their culture in such a way that it could be passed on to their children. It seems likely that the future of the pre-war Lithuanian culture in Australia is close to extinction. The Siberian group, due to the strong connections formed with the homeland, has continued to maintain a high level of the original culture. The old émigrés have been able to keep alive the interest among their children and grandchildren, and thereby preserve a continuity of the Lithuanian culture. This research reveals marked complexity in the situation faced by the three groups investigated and shows that the broad comparisons implied by the hypotheses formulated at the beginning of the study represent an oversimplification of what is actually a highly variable and nuanced reality.

Publication Details

Vico, M. (2008). Lithuanian diaspora: An interview study on the preservation or loss of Pre-World War Two traditional culture among Lithuanian Catholic Émigrés in Western Australia and Siberia, in comparison with Lithuanians in their homeland [Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)]. The University of Notre Dame Australia. https://researchonline.nd.edu.au/theses/33