A Cat's lick: democratisation and minority communities in the Post-Soviet Baltic

Collection:
Mokslo publikacijos / Scientific publications
Document Type:
Knygos / Books
Language:
Anglų kalba / English
Title:
A Cat's lick: democratisation and minority communities in the Post-Soviet Baltic
Authors:
Agarin, Timofey
Publication Data:
Amsterdam ; Rodopi, 2010.
Pages:
379 p
Series:
On the boundary of two worlds : identity, freedom, and moral imagination in the Baltics; 22
Contents:
Acknowledgements — Abbreviations — Foreword / David J. Galbreath — Introduction — The challenges of post-communist democratisation — Case study: the Baltic states — A note on terminology: the minority communities — Structure of the book — Explaining post-communist democratisation — Consolidation of the democratic regimes — Democratisation and society — Civil society in post-communism — Ethno-territorial proliferation in the Soviet Baltic — Economic development and the demographic shift — The making of the Soviet people — Dissent and contention in the Soviet Union — The impact of affirmative action on Russian-speakers — Baltic perestroika and nation-building — Baltic nationalism awakened — Baltic pro-Soviet movements: the counterforce? — Cultural nationalism of Lithuania's Sąjūdis — Estonia and Latvia: the cases of ethnonationalism? — State-building and framing of non-titulars — Design of political membership in Estonia and Latvia — Crafting the status of the state languages — Language enforcement — Internalionalisation of minority politics — Titularisation of Baltic education — Language teaching — Introducing bilingual education programmes — Changes in school curricula — Minority cooptation in the Baltic societies — Multicultural in form, national in content — The instruments of minority integration — Diluted outcomes of integration — Cooptation as a model of integration — The language of alienation — Minorities' proficiency in the state language — The Russian language information space — Language sabotage? Minority/majority dialogue — Consequences of linguistic segregation — Minority representation in social structures — Employment and social status of non-titulars — Russian-speakers in public office — Minority political representatives — Minority engagement in civic initiatives —Civil society in the Baltic states: an oxymoron? —Minorities' cooperation with the state — Civic initiatives supporting co-ethnics — Minorities' engagement in policy advising — Conclusion — Conclusion – Baltic democratisation: a cat's lick? — Minority and majority in the making — Institutions as tools of democratisation — Implications for studies of democratisation — Bibliography.
Subject Category:
LT
Estija (Estonia); Lietuva (Lithuania); Etninės grupės / Ethnic groups; Politinė ideologija / Political ideology; Slavų kalbos / Slavic languages; Latvija (Latvia).
Summary / Abstract:

ENThe research on Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania has pointed out some controversial social and political developments since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Crucially, there is a discrepancy between the governments' commitment to creating democratic political regimes, to ensuring harmonious social relations and to accommodating the ethno-cultural diversity of the resident communities. In reflecting on the legacies of the Soviet past, the book addresses the role non-titular populations have played in the process of democratisation and the relation between the states, societies and minorities in the post-Soviet Baltic states. The argument proceeds along three lines. Firstly, the book examines the institutional dimension of democratisation in the region, thereby addressing the processes of state- and nation-building as reflected in various policy-developments. Secondly, it compares the impact of ethno-cultural diversity on the development of the respective Baltic nation-states. The discussion makes clear that the framework of Baltic political communities was designed to suit the interests of the titular groups and thus resulted in the marginalisation of the minority communities. Thirdly, the book assesses the participation of minority communities in the development, criticism and improvement of state institutions and policies since independence. The analysis points out that, two decades after independence, the post-Soviet Baltic states and societies are seen by many members of the majority groups as primarily serving the interests of their ethnic community. In this situation, the members of the non-titular communities need to adapt to the majorities' perceptions in order to benefit from the achievements of democratisation.

ISBN:
9789042029897; 9789042029903 (e-book)
Subject:
Permalink:
https://www.lituanistika.lt/content/54751
Updated:
2026-02-25 13:35:37
Metrics:
Views: 47
Export:
Download