After its reestablished independence, Latvia decided to follow western ideals and transformed to a liberal, market based democracy. Nowadays the country is a member of the European Union and NATO. Among the three Baltic countries, Latvia was the Soviet Republic with the highest share of ethnic Russian population. Although the Latvian constitution allows national minorities the preservation of their culture, language and religion, an ongoing conflict in the society is visible: The Russian minority does not feel to be a partner on eye level, unwanted and partly excluded from governmental contribution. A pool of disintegrated that could be absorbed by others, containing the potential for social unrest.
Table of Contents
1. Russian Soft Power & The Latvian Russian Union Towards Latvia's Minority Policy
Objectives and Topics
This paper examines the influence of Russian soft power on Latvia's domestic political landscape, specifically focusing on how the Latvian Russian Union (Latvijas Krievu savieniba) leverages this influence to address the concerns of the ethnic Russian minority within the context of Latvia's national minority policy.
- The theoretical application and impact of Russian soft power in the Baltic region.
- The historical development and political trajectory of the Latvian Russian Union.
- The complex socio-political relationship between the Latvian state and its ethnic Russian minority.
- The role of citizenship, language policies, and collective memory in shaping Latvian-Russian tensions.
- The impact of geopolitical tensions, such as the Ukraine Crisis, on Latvian internal stability.
Excerpt from the Book
Russian Soft Power & The Latvian Russian Union Towards Latvia's Minority Policy
In 2004 the political scientist Joseph S. Nye published the book “Soft Power: The Means To Success In World Politics”. It refers to the ability of influencing the behaviour of others through attraction, without the use of force and threat. This ability, called soft power, has three main sources; the interests of foreign policy as well as cultural and political values. Moreover it can be used offensively for information warfare to disempower rivals. This “negative soft power” attacks the values of others, contests their stability, lowers their attractiveness and limits their own relative soft power.
A large minority in Latvia feels attached to Russia by their Slav-ethnic identity, the bounds of culture, language and orthodox religion. Ethnic Latvians on the other side belong to their own, small cultural space in a Baltic language family and are mostly Lutheran. Latvia is fully connected to the european space, whereas Russia in its history was always perturbed by the west. Moreover, where the EU is expecting an anti-Russian position from its members (European Parliament, External Relations, 2019) is the Russian government expressing disapproval and attempts to offer a countermodel to EU membership, e.g. by the creation of “a common humanitarian and economic zone” (Reuters, 2013). Until now these two ethnicities were irreconcilable to one another, manifested in the Latvian historical experience of a Russian oppressor.
Summary of Chapters
1. Russian Soft Power & The Latvian Russian Union Towards Latvia's Minority Policy: This chapter introduces the core subject of how Russia utilizes soft power to influence the ethnic Russian minority in Latvia, while analyzing the political efforts of the Latvian Russian Union to navigate and exploit these dynamics within the Latvian political sphere.
Keywords
Soft Power, Latvia, Latvian Russian Union, Ethnic Russian Minority, Foreign Policy, Political Influence, Citizenship, National Identity, European Union, NATO, Information Warfare, Integration, Social Unrest, Collective Memory, Geopolitics
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research paper?
The paper fundamentally analyzes the interplay between Russian soft power strategies and the domestic political agenda of the Latvian Russian Union, focusing on how these factors affect the status and political participation of the ethnic Russian minority in Latvia.
What are the primary thematic areas addressed in the study?
Key areas include the definition and application of soft power, the historical evolution of post-Soviet Latvian-Russian relations, the citizenship dilemma, language policy debates, and the role of political parties in representing minority interests.
What is the central research question?
The research investigates whether the Latvian Russian Union is capable of effectively addressing minority interests while maintaining a conformist approach to Russian foreign policy, as formulated through soft power tactics.
Which scientific methods are employed in this study?
The study utilizes a qualitative analysis of historical developments, political documents, electoral data, and media reports to examine the impact of soft power and the strategic positioning of the Latvian Russian Union.
What content is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body covers the theoretical framework of soft power, the historical context of Latvian independence, the formation and electoral history of the Latvian Russian Union, and the specific challenges regarding citizenship, language, and cultural identity.
Which keywords characterize this paper?
Central keywords include Soft Power, Latvian Russian Union, ethnic minority rights, post-Soviet integration, and geopolitical influence in the Baltic states.
How does the "victim role" affect the political climate in Latvia?
According to the text, the victim role stemming from the Soviet occupation has dominated Latvia's collective memory and has been utilized as an effective political instrument to foster national identity and distance the country from its Soviet past.
What dilemma does the Latvian state face regarding Russian-language media?
Latvia faces a dilemma where it lacks its own Russian-language media to effectively communicate its values to the Russian-speaking minority, while simultaneously being unable to compete with Russian state media due to the outcomes of democratic referendums and political preferences.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Peter Mons (Autor:in), 2021, Russian Soft Power & The Latvian Russian Union Towards Latvia's Minority Policy, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/991300
