Etninio identiteto paieškos Vidurio ir Rytų Europos kraštuose

ENThe article is based on sociological research supported by Soros foundation, provided in 1997-1998 in Central and Eastern Europe: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Bielorussia, Ukraine, Poland, Bulgaria, Rumunia, Serbia. Various pagan-oriented groups and movements were investigated. The investigation realized tendencies common to all postcommunist countries. The origin of Eastern European neopaganism lays in the quest for ethnic identity. The main direction is an attempt to find a key to a new situation, to trace back roots and to explore tradition. The majority of pagans in the region, with exceptions, is not politically active. None of the above organizations can be characterized as extremist. The pagan movements of the region try to exploit traditions in order to create a new response to the contemporary challenges. The search of new ethnic identity, which is common to most investigated groups of Central Eastern Europe can be fruitfull in future, when the idea of regionalism in European Union will come to force.