Imperialization of street names as part of the cultural appropriation of urban space in late imperial Vilnius

Late imperial Vilnius saw a systematic yet largely unsuccessful attempt by the tsarist elite to 'imperialize' its urban landscape, particularly through street names, as part of broader cultural appropriation efforts. This study reveals that despite intense state-led interventions—aimed at countering Polish influence—the local public resisted these changes, clinging to traditional place-names. The research combines critical place-name studies with the 'imperial turn,' demonstrating how imperial power dynamics shaped urban space in borderland towns, with Vilnius serving as a key case study of failed cultural assimilation.

Staliūnas, D. (2025). Imperialization of street names as part of the cultural appropriation of urban space in late imperial Vilnius. Urban History, 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0963926825100576