Historical family systems and the great European divide: the invention of the Slavic East
Mikołaj Szołtysek|Barbara Zuber-Goldstein
In 1940, almost two years into World War II, the book, Agrarverfassung und Bevolkerung in Litauen Weisrussland (“Agrarian constitution and population Lithuania Belarus”), was published by Werner Conze, a young German historian. The analysis of data led Conze to detect difference between West East. comparison emphasised cultural divide Germans Slavs East postulating smaller family sizes throughout western or influenced part historic Lithuania, larger families with more complex structures Slavic parts country. Conze’s scientific insights remain present today’s historical-demographic literature, have become an essential building block any argument support validity persistence East-West differentials systems East-Central Europe. Because this study’s continued importance, it may prove useful re-examine. Our critical assessment some basic assumptions reveals serious shortcomings his analysis, which resulted from making unwarranted inferences non-representative circumstantial evidence, underlying motivation search for German-Slavic differences. We will discuss extent pervading notion historical Europe should be revised response these shortcomings. By uncovering inadequacies contribution, we hope pave way better understanding familial characteristics Eastern Europe, end perpetuation certain stereotypes populations.
CiteSeer X (The Pennsylvania State University)