Przemiany tożsamości mieszkańców ziem zachodnich i północnych

The article discusses the contribution of organisations to the creation of the new social order after 1989, especially in the field of treasuring the past and forming a new democratic reality on the local and regional scale. Examples include activities of the Borussia Cultural Community in Olsztyn and the Mazurska Community in Gizycko. These societies propagate the idea of open regionalism as well as open localness following the motto Act locally, think globally. According to the author, open regionalism conveys, among others, the attempt to overcome the biggest pre-1989 flaw, i.e., isolationism, a lack of contact with the closest neighbours. Open regionalism also means creating contact and relation networks whose participants, drawing on their rich personal experience, the specificity of regions and nations, form civil society as well as a firm basis of contemporary Europe. The author observes that, after the fall of real socialism, in the case of Warmia and Mazury we are dealing with various actions aimed at preserving and renewing German commemorations. This testifies to a new identity of inhabitants, who see this land as their home.