The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence
A political-history nonfiction work that traces how the Baltic states won independence from Soviet rule through both historical analysis and on-the-ground reporting. It follows national movements, state-building, and relations with Russia in a layered way.
Work Information
A book that rereads the post-Cold War Baltic world through the memory of independence and the realities of politics.
It follows the long history of the Baltic states while documenting the collapse of the Soviet system and the restoration of independence. Lieven turns a complex landscape of ethnicity, religion, politics, and diplomacy into a readable work of political nonfiction.
Book Information
- Publisher
- Yale University Press
- Published
- 1994-09-10
- Pages
- 504 pages
- Language
- 英語
- Size
- 23.47 x 15.82 x 2.97 cm
- ISBN-13
- 9780300060782
- ISBN-10
- 0300060785
- Price
- 9474 JPY
- Category
- 洋書/History/Europe/Estonia
World attention has focused on the newly independent Baltic states of Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania, as they struggle to become politically and economically viable. In this timely book, Anatol Lieven presents an intimate and engaging portrait of the history and culture of the Baltic states from their ancient origins to their contemporary status. He explores the culture and personality of the Baltic peoples, their religious and racial differences, their relations with Russia and with the West, and their prospects for the future. Lieven begins by describing the ancient Baltic peoples, their conquest by the Christians, the evolution of the Lithuanian empire and their union with Poland, and the experience of the Baltic provinces under the Russian Empire. He then looks at the countries' first struggle for independence in 1918, the failure of democracy and the establishment of authoritarian regimes, and the Soviet annexation of the Baltic in 1940. Lieven discusses the class structure of the Baltics and the ethnic tensions that have existed between the Germans, Jews, Poles, and Russians who live there. Drawing on a wide range of sources including interviews, newspaper accounts, and his own observations, he describes and analyzes the rise of national movements in each of the three countries after Glastnost. He concludes by discussing the new constitutions and the elections of 1992, the current forces of order, the demolition of the Soviet economies, and the possibilities for democracy and Europeanization or for ethnic conflict and nationalist dictatorship.
Reviews
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A Contemporary Account of the Baltic SSR's Quest for Freedom
This book details the story of the Baltic Republics' quest to leave the Soviet Union. The three republics, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were occupied by the Soviets and entered into the Union following WWII. For them, WWII did not end until the Bolsheviks were cast out in 1991. This book is essentially a firsthand account of the situation. Great for anyone interested in the final years of the Cold War.
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Interesting book .
Have not finished reading yet .but it gives interesting history of the Baltic states before and during their Soviet occupation,
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Five Stars
Great read
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Great resource on the area
It is a great resource on the background of the Baltic countries up until 1993, when the book was published. It provides an insight into the history and culture of the three nations.
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Even better than Chechnya; Tombstone of Russian Power.
Even better than Chechnya; Tombstone of Russian Power. The author is very comfortable with Baltic culture and tradition and weaves an amazing story of heroism and freedom of independent autonomy!
Related Literary Awards
- Orwell Prize Edition 1 (1994) ・Winner