The Nationalization of Latvians and the Issue of Serfdom: The Bal ...

When the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania regained their sovereignty as nation-states in 1991, another period of foreign domination ended. The demise of the Soviet Union and its sphere of political and military influence has given rise to a number of complex issues for the Baltic states and Europe as a whole. The Baltic states moved quickly to underline their national identity, sovereignty, and cultural affinity with western Europe. This realignment was also aimed at reestablishing and reaffirming political, economic, historical, and religious links with western Europe. This radical reorientation away from the Russian cultural, political, and military sphere of influence has raised a number of questions about cultural and national identity. It also evokes certain questions about the nation and culture with all its political, social, economic, and historical dimensions.

The Baltic states maintain that they have always identified their cultural past and future as belonging to that of western Europe. This is evidenced by the radical political and cultural reorientation away from Russia in the years since 1991. In more recent times, the issues of European Union expansion and NATO membership and commitments have raised and accentuated a number of interesting questions concerning cultural and national identity. In addition to this, smaller EU member states must balance national identity and interests while contending with the broader European issues, including the following: What are the defining characteristics of Europe (i.e., what is Europe?). Where do Europe’s boundaries begin or end? Is European transnationalism a viable prospect? Does a homogenous European culture, in fact, exist, given the recent problems with agreeing upon and adapting a European constitution? Central to the concept of identity—be it Latvian or European identity—are the ideas of shared language, culture, traditions, and values.