Konflikty tożsamościowe w grupie jako wyzwanie i źródło etycznych dylematów dla badacza etnicznosci

Abstract

In recent years, the groups which are the subject of my analysis, Carpatho–Rusyns,
 Lemkos, Kashubians and Silesians, have been a source of interest for the representatives
 of many disciplines, including sociology, anthropology and linguistics.
 While these groups are in a contest for the recognition and preservation of their
 culture and language, they are also characterized (of course, within a very different
 scope and nature) by an intra-group identity conflict concerning the status of the
 group (ethnic, regional, ethnographic, linguistic, national, whether the group is
 a separate nation) and its national affiliation. Some leaders of these ethnic groups
 demonstrate a wish for emancipation, while others see their group as belonging
 to other nations. Conflicts and dilemmas of identity define the dividing lines in
 groups, most often institutionalized in the form of the existence of separate and
 frequently opposed organizations. There is often a debate regarding the appropriate
 path to take. Furthermore, ethnic leaders with conflicting views often claim
 the right to represent the whole group and speak on its behalf. Such a situation is
 a challenge for the researcher, especially when studies concern ethnic leaders who
 wish to control group ethnicity and identity politics, and thus are interested in
 the image of the group that emerges from publications about it. In this situation,
 the researcher often unintentionally becomes a participant in the identity debate.
 The case of such groups, which I consider to be significant, shows the difficulty
 of practicing engaged anthropology/sociology. In my paper I will introduce the
 basic challenges and ethical dilemmas that accompany the study of such groups
 during all stages of the research process, using both the experience from my own
 fieldwork, and also by analyzing selected publications discussing strategies of
 dealing with the situation of identity conflicts adopted by other anthropologists
 and sociologists who have examined the communities which are the subject of
 my research.