Konflikty narodowo-etniczne w społecznościach pogranicza kulturowego w województwie podlaskim

: The article presents a discussion on the conflicts of a national and ethnic origin that takes place in recent years among the borderland communities in Podlaskie Voivodeship. The author lists a number of internal and external factors that affect the occurrence of an increased number of ethnic-national conflict situ-ations in the north-eastern borderland of Poland. He points out that the emerging conflicts do not mean a weakened position of ethnic and national minorities. The author presents some of the conflicts, emphasizing the increased awareness of defending one’s values.