Piederība pie dzīves vietas kā viens no identitātes aspektiem
A Sense of Belonging to a Place of Residence as One Aspect of Identity

Summary/Abstract: A sense of belonging to a place of residence is related to local identity - it provides a link to a certain place and an understanding of this belonging. Today identity is increasingly perceived as the result of individual choice. Local identity is also constructed. Local identity is interdisciplinary as it combines geographical, cultural, social and economical aspects. The article describes the role and the manifestations of local identity in the life of the Latvian people. The article is based on research carried out within the framework of the interdisciplinary project of the Latvian Council of Science The Development of Latvian Regions: The Humanitarian and Social Dimension and other research being carried out in Latvia. Local identity in Latvia can express itself on two levels: the local and the regional. In the first case it is related to belonging to a place of residence, in the second it is belonging to the one of Latvia's historic regions. Local identity has an important but often underestimated potential for local development: by strengthening and developing local identity it is possible to also contribute to socioeconomic development.

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