ETHNICITY IN THE INTERNET ECUMEN. IS DIGITAL SOLIDARITY POSSIBLE? (Etnicznosc w internetowej ekumenie. Czy mozliwa jest solidarnosc cyfrowa?)

The author has analysed forms of presence of selected ethnic groups in the Internet. The typology of modern ethnic groups formulated by Thomas Hylland Eriksen has been used. Eriksen has identified four types of ethnic groups: 1. urban ethnic minorities, 2. indigenous peoples, 3. proto-nations and 4. ethnic groups in plural societies. Each of the types of ethnic groups identified by Eriksen is illustrated with one example. The urban ethnic minority is represented by the Assyrians, indigenous peoples - by the Mapuche from Chile, proto-nations - by the Tamils and the ethnic groups in plural societies by the Garifuna in Belize. The question about the 'Internet versions of ethnic identities' is also a question about the nature of the groups and their online relations, the relations between the real and virtual culture as well as about the 'digital solidarity', its potential and limitations.