Grand Duchy of Lithuania heritage proposed as state strategic priority

Lithuania is considering elevating the heritage of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (LDK) to a state strategic priority, recognizing its importance beyond academia.

A working group, led by Valdas Rakutis, chairman of the Commission for the Actualization of Traditions and Heritage of Lithuanistics, believes this designation is crucial for Lithuania's resilience against information threats and for enhancing its international communication efforts. Rakutis noted a current lack of a systematic approach to studying and preserving LDK heritage, with different institutions working in isolation, leading to disparities in research.

"We will try to identify problems and seek solutions through the guidelines prepared by the working group," Rakutis stated. The proposed LDK research and actualization program would encompass fundamental and applied studies in history, historical geography, archaeology, art history, material and immaterial heritage, and cultural-historical landscapes and memory. It also suggests developing historical cartography and visual aids like digital maps and atlases.

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We will try to identify problems and seek solutions through the guidelines prepared by the working group.

The working group recommends investigating and publicizing LDK cultural and historical memory sites, complexes, castles, residences, churches, battle sites, and monuments. Notably, the proposal includes examining sites located outside present-day Lithuania. A key component involves digitizing LDK heritage and creating a virtual scientific archive of LDK memory, encompassing sites both domestically and abroad.

Rakutis acknowledged potential challenges in digitizing sites in territories like present-day Belarus, given current political relations. However, he expressed optimism that future relations might normalize. He also pointed to "Litvinism," a perceived Belarusian perspective on Lithuanian history, and a lack of Lithuanian knowledge about Belarusian history as areas needing attention. The program envisions 10-20 year research projects, particularly in historical geography and heritage systematization. Two alternative research models are proposed, with an inter-institutional coordination model based on existing institutions' capacities considered the most realistic.

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Litvinism, I would say, is a strange Belarusian attitude towards Lithuanian history, and on the other hand, Lithuanians do not know Belarusian history.