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Border crossings, moving borders: young people’s constructions of identities in Lithuania in the early 21st century

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Ross, Alistair and Zuzevičiūtė, Vaiva (2011) Border crossings, moving borders: young people’s constructions of identities in Lithuania in the early 21st century. Profesinis Rengimas: Yyrimai Realijos, 20. pp. 38-47. ISSN 1392-6241

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Abstract

Citizenship and civic identity have been traditionally associated with a defined, limited and exclusive area or territory (Mackenzie 1978). Over the past sixty years, this conception has become gradually and partially eroded, through processes such as globalisation, large scale migration, and the development of dual citizenship. The development of the European Union has contributed another layer of complexity. The border of the European Union has moved between its inception in 1956 and its most recent expansion in 2004, and further border movements are planned in coming years. The aim of this paper is to present small-scale qualitative investigation into how young people – aged between 11 and 18 - are constructing their identities and becoming aware of their actual or potential European identity. This paper focuses on findings from Lithuania. As the borders of the European Union continue to demonstrate their flexibility, even an ambiguity, are there (in the minds of these young people) limits to Europe: where does the frontier lie?

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