SILESIA: MULTICULTURALISM OR CULTURAL DIFFERENTIATION (Slask: wielokulturowosc czy kulturowe zróznicowanie?)

The multiculturalism of Upper Silesia has been influenced by the combination of three cultures: Polish, German, and Czech. It is also important to note the influence from the Jews and the Roma which enriched the region's culture. Contemporary multiculturalism of Silesia stems from the rule of the Silesian Piasts, when colonization led to increase of German settlements in urban and rural Silesia. The multiculturalism of this region gradually changed from the times of socialism to become what today is known as contemporary multiculturalism. Today multiculturalism continues to flourish through the institutionalized organizations of ethnic minorities that uphold their cultural traditions. The multiculturalism of Silesia has always remained an integral part of this region and the cultural identity of its inhabitants.