Abstract
The paper examines the question of importance of minority institutions in present-day modern society. Using the situation in the Czech Republic as a model, it observes the essence of individual types of minority institutions and their impact on the maintenance of continuity of original ethnic roots and on the cultivation of memory of this social and cultural background.
In the theoretical sphere, the paper is based on the proposition that fragmented structures of modern society work on the basis of fragmented institutions that often do not intensively cooperate. Along with other internal functions, they acquire the position of an icon for an ethnic minority and foreigner’s community.
When searching for ethnic roots, one can establish a relationship to them in the context of maintenance, promotion and consecration of the initial ethnic identity.