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A Cat’s Lick

Democratisation and minority communities in the post-Soviet Baltic.

by: Timofey Agarin
published by
: Rodopi
pp: 379
ISBN: 978-90-420-2989-7
price: € 80.00

Book's frontpage

The 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.

 

Table of contents

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements

Abbreviations

Foreword by David J. Galbreath

Introduction

Explaining post-communist democratisation

Ethno-territorial proliferation in the Soviet Baltic

Baltic perestroika and nation-building

State-building and framing of non-titulars

Titularisation of Baltic education

Minority cooptation in the Baltic societies

The Language of alienation

Minority representation in social structures

Minority engagement in civic initiatives

Baltic democratisation: A cat’s lick?

Bibliography

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