Strategic Frames

Strategic Frames PDF

Author: Jennie L. Schulze

Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press

Published: 2018-03-16

Total Pages: 288

ISBN-13: 0822983095

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Strategic Frames analyzes minority policies in Estonia and Latvia following their independence from the Soviet Union. It weighs the powerful influence of both Europe and Russia on their policy choices, and how this intersected with the costs and benefits of policy changes for the politicians in each state. Prior to EU accession, policymakers were slow to adopt minority-friendly policies for ethnic Russians despite mandates from the European Union. These initiatives faced majority opposition, and politicians sought to maintain the status quo and their positions. As Jennie L. Schulze reveals, despite the credit given to the democratizing influence of European institutions, they have rarely produced significant policy changes alone, and then only when domestic constraints were low. Whenever domestic opposition was high, Russian frames were crucial for the passage of reforms. In these cases, Russia’s activism on behalf of Russian speakers reinforced European frames, providing powerful justifications for reform. Schulze’s attention to both the strategic framing and counter framing of external actors explains the controversies, delays, and suboptimal outcomes surrounding the passage of “conditional” amendments in both cases, as well as the local political climate postaccession. Strategic Frames offers a significant reference on recent developments in two former Soviet states and the rapidly evolving spheres of political influence in the postindependence era that will serve students, scholars, and policymakers alike.

Russian-Speakers in Post-Soviet Latvia

Russian-Speakers in Post-Soviet Latvia PDF

Author: Ammon Cheskin

Publisher: Edinburgh University Press

Published: 2016-01-18

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13: 1474409997

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The political shocks of the 2014 Ukrainian crisis have been felt in many former Soviet countries, not least Latvia, where over 35 per cent of the population are native Russian speakers. At a time when analysts and commentators are unsure about Russia's future plans to intervene on behalf of their 'compatriots', this study provides a detailed political and cultural analysis of Russian-speaking identity in Latvia. By using Russian-speakers in Latvia as a specific case study, this volume also offers a fresh methodological approach to the study of discourses and discursive strategies. It outlines a coherent methodology to study the evolution of discourses over time, rather than a single de-contextualised and static time period. Drawing on media analysis, elite interviews, focus groups and survey data, this volume situates the identity strategies of Russian speakers within the transformations of the post-Soviet era. By assessing political, cultural and economic links with their home state (Latvia) and their potential kin-state (Russia), it offers important insights into the complex identity positions of Latvia's Russian speakers, and how these positions have evolved in Latvia since the late Soviet period. At a historical moment when many will question the loyalty of Russian speakers to their various 'host states', this book provides a timely, scholarly account of ethnic politics in Latvia. It also offers a methodological framework that allows for the mapping of trends in discursive strategies, exploring how they evolve through time.

Russia and Latvia

Russia and Latvia PDF

Author: Andis Kudors

Publisher: Taylor & Francis

Published: 2023-11-17

Total Pages: 203

ISBN-13: 1003802346

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This book explores Russia’s relations with Latvia, arguing that Latvia, with a higher proportion of Russian speakers than other Baltic states, is especially vulnerable to Russia’s “sharp power”. The book highlights how authoritarian and totalitarian regimes are unable to exercise soft power based on the attractiveness of the country's culture and values, which would help them gain the favour of the audience of the target countries, but instead, as in the case of Russia, use public diplomacy, compatriot policy, media policy, propaganda, and disinformation to produce a destructive effect, distorting the democracies of target countries and increasing national security risks. The book provides in-depth detail on how Russia is making use of this “sharp power” in Latvia, examines the consequences and assesses the dangers for the future.

Border Conditions

Border Conditions PDF

Author: Kevin M. F. Platt

Publisher: Cornell University Press

Published: 2024-02-15

Total Pages: 341

ISBN-13: 1501773720

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Border Conditions combines history and memory studies with literary and cultural studies to examine lives at the limits of contemporary Europe: Russian speakers living in Latvia. Since the fall of the USSR in 1991, Latvia's Russian speakers have balanced between Russia and Europe as well as a socialist past, a capitalist and liberal present, and an illiberal regime rising in the Russian Federation. Kevin M. F. Platt describes how members of this population have defined themselves through art, literature, cultural institutions, film, and music—and how others have sought to define them. At the end of the Cold War, many anticipated that societies globally could agree on the meaning of past history and a just politics in the present. The view from the borders of Europe demonstrates the contradictions pertaining to terms like empire, state socialism, liberalism, and nation that have made it impossible to achieve a consensus. In refocusing the examination of state socialism's aftermath around questions of empire and postcolonialism, Border Conditions helps us understand the distinctions between Russian and Western worldviews driving military confrontation to this day.

The Case for Latvia

The Case for Latvia PDF

Author: Jukka Rislakki

Publisher: Rodopi

Published: 2008

Total Pages: 296

ISBN-13: 9042024240

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What do we know about Latvia and the Latvians? A Baltic (not Balkan) nation that emerged from fifty years under the Soviet Union - interrupted by a brief but brutal Nazi-German occupation and a devastating war - now a member of the European Union and NATO. Yes, but what else? Relentless accusations keep appearing, especially in Russian media, often repeated in the West: "Latvian soldiers single-handedly saved Lenin's revolution in 1917", "Latvians killed Tsar Nikolai II and the Royal family", "Latvia was a thoroughly anti-Semitic country and Latvians started killing Jews even before the Germans arrived in 1941", "Nazi revival is rampant in today's Latvia", "The Russian minority is persecuted in Latvia. . ." True, false or in-between? The Finnish journalist and author Jukka Rislakki examines charges like these and provides an outline of Latvia's recent history while attempting to separate documented historical fact from misinformation and deliberate disinformation. His analysis helps to explain why the Baltic States (population 7 million) consistently top the enemy lists in public opinion polls of Russia (143 million). His knowledge of the Baltic languages allows him to make use of local sources and up-to-date historical research. He is a former Baltic States correspondent for Finland's largest daily newspaper Helsingin Sanomat and the author of several books on Finnish and Latvian history. As a neutral, experienced and often critical observer, Rislakki is uniquely qualified for the task of separating truth from fiction.

Investing in Russia, the Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Kazakhstan

Investing in Russia, the Ukraine, Latvia, Lithuania and Kazakhstan PDF

Author: Gil Feiler

Publisher: Liverpool University Press

Published: 2007

Total Pages: 270

ISBN-13:

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This is the first comprehensive informational database of the major political, economic and legal issues that organisations world-wide need to know about in order to do business in Russia and surrounding countries. The text summarises the major economic developments in this dynamic region, provides accurate and up to date sources on business legislation, and gives crucial practical advice to business people and foreign investors. Using local as well as international sources, each country text provides detailed information on: Best business opportunities and sectors; Legal issues relevant to trade and business activities, including franchising; Information on investment laws, the judiciary, labor law, taxation, IPR laws, currency and banking, and business partnership opportunities; Contact details of government offices, business associations, calendars of business events, etc. While the Energy sector holds a global significance and tops the international business communities' investment priorities, especially in Russia and Kazakhstan, economic dynamism has been demonstrated over the last decade in all these countries, and there are substantial business opportunities in all economic sectors. Written by an Economics Analyst with a proven track record in providing business information, and a Corporate Lawyer with extensive experience of engaging at contractual level with business and government organisations in these countries, this book is essential reading for all those involved in Legal, Business, Investment and Political decision-making.

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