Regionalne uniwersum symboliczne Wysp Alandzkich

Abstract

The Regional Symbolic Universum of the Aland IslandsThe author argues that the inhabitants of the Aland Islands exhibit a separate island identity. He describes the specific historical, geographical, social, political and legal situation of this region on the basis of the elements that constitute the local/regional symbolic universum. He points out that as a result of decades-long manifestations of a sense of separateness and of struggle to preserve and maintain this separateness, a regional culture has come into being, unique and specific to these Islands only. He claims that, based on this regional culture, a distinct ethnic identity has been constructed, which manifests itself as a strong collective WE, a sense that the inhabitants identify with the category “Aland Islander”, yet without establishing a national identity, and with no aspirations for an independent sovereign state.