Resumo
Based on the cultural-philosophical approach, the shaping of the ideology of Lithuanian nationalism in the second half of the 19th - early 20th centuries are examined. The theoretical and methodological foundation of the study consists of the analysis of journalistic and social activities of the “father of the Lithuanian people” Jonas Basanavičius. The task is set to identify the main ethnic inconsistencies and cultural and historical contradictions in the ideological concept of the origin of the Lithuanian language and Lithuanian national self-identification theory created by J. Basanavičius. It is revealed that in his ideological and nationalist works J. Basanavičius artificially formed the Lithuanian national identity, which does not have documentary and historical confirmation. The purpose of J. Basanavičius’ work was to counteract Russian national policy, as well as to create an independent state entity - Lithuania.