The Baltic Revolution: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and the Path to Independence

Rating:
Summary: Something for everyone?!
Review: This book is a good view of the path to the Baltic's 2nd Republic. The author gives a good account of what transpired in the Baltic republics during the late 80's and early 90's, when this book was written. He was living there and reports firsthand the events that transpired.

I almost felt that most of the book was about Lithuania. Maybe that is because Lithuania, unlike its northern neighbors, was able to resist teutonic conquest and allied itself with Poland. Lieven gives the reader history and more, because the actions the Estonians, Latvians, and Lithuanians took in becoming independant are rooted in history. For example, the 2nd Republic had to decide what constitution or laws were used. Most opted for the interwar laws and constitutions. But this conflicted with the European or EU view. So, the Balts were considered to be insensitive to the colonizers, in their midst. The Balts looked toward Europe, but their view of Europe was stuck in the interwar period. That was their only view, during the Soviet occupation. As the author states in arguments with "the extreme Right-wing parties about some of their ideas, and my knock-out blow (wrapped in less direct language) has always been: 'what you are saying is not European; it will separate you from the modern West'" page 71. This idea is sort of a mantra for the author. That the Balts do not know what it is to be European.

The book has notes, but no biliography. I found that to be unacceptable. The book is organized thus: 1 The Shape of the Land; 2 Surviving the Centuries; 3 Independence Won and Lost, 1918-40; 4 The Troglodyte International: The Soviet Impact on the Baltic; 5 Imagined Nations: Cycles of Cultural Rebirth; 6 Lost Atlantises: The Half-Forgotten Nationalities of the Baltic; 7 The Baltic Russians; 8 The Independence Movements and their Successors, 1987-92; 9 Building on Ruins: The Recreation of the New States; Conclusion: The West and the Baltic States.

This was an interesting book. I would be interested in reading what has happened during the 10 years, since the writing of this book. I think the author took pride in declaring to the Balts that they were not "modern" Europeans.

Rating:
Summary: Solid and opinionated, landmark of the era
Review: This well-written, confident and elegantly worded book will not be the guidebook to the Baltics of today, but this is not why you would be picking this book in this day and age. 'The Baltic Revolution' is now firmly a part of the shelf looking at history - albeit a recent one, but history nevertheless.

It was fun to pick this book and leaf through it this week. My God - it was only written about a decade ago! So many things changed beyond belief (shops, houses, infrastructure, clothes - these are no-brainers; but also political life has matured incredibly, and Lithuania even managed to impeach its president caught with his hand in the till).

And then, even more bizarrely, you notice that so many things stayed the same. EXACTLY the same.

If you are in the Baltics for more than a week, this book would make a captivating reading: you will understand where Baltic ways of doing things, Balts' thoughts and idiosynchracies come from. In my travels, I found that studies of RECENT history of a country were the most revealing when trying to understand the national character. Maybe it is something about being able to see the process - see it 'to scale', so to speak.

The Baltic people are prisoners of their history more than they are willing to admit (and as a Lithuanian-born and Lithuanian-educated but UK-resident Lithuanian, I can say so without a fear of insulting sensibilities). In Lieven's book, you will read about the same character traits - but, visually, the countries really are nothing like those in which Mr Lieven lived when he used to write for 'The Times'.

Probably the smartest analogy I could think of would be as follows: imagine yourself staying in one of seven-star super-duper hotels in Dubai with plasma TVs and fish-tank walls and internet access in your shower AND while you're at it, read a book about the times when this emyrate was nothing but desert and camels.

It is, however, very sad to realize that, with a bit of luck, the Baltics may never again be in a situation where major newspapers would feel it is worthwile to retain a correspondent there. It is good news for the people of those countries that Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are no longer on the news map. They have developed into predictable democracies - unexciting but better for the people.

However, in the absence of seasoned correspondents, who is going to write books about them like Mr Lieven?

Rating:
Summary: Dated but good introduction to the Baltics
Review: Unfortunately, this book is now badly dated. So much has happened in the wake of the 91 revolution that the Baltic countries look much different than those Lieven presents in this book. However, his telling of the revolution and some of the events that led up to it provide the reader with a good background into the re-emergence of the Baltic nations.

Lithuania stands out because it was the first of the Baltics to physically make its case. Estonia had actually drafted its declaration of independence first but was afraid to make the first step. Not so with Lithuania, led by the charismatic Vytautus Landsbergis, a well-regarded composer, Lithuania proudly stood its ground against the Soviet tanks. With shades of the Prague Spring lurking in the shadows. Lithuania dubbed it the Singing Revolution, a nation well known for its folk songs. The people sung these sungs well into the night.

However, many of the prophecies Lieven fortold in this book failed to hold true. Although Estonia had the jump on the Baltics economically, thanks to its strong ties with Finland, the others soon caught up. Estonia's Hansabank continues to dominate banking, but Latvia and Lithuania have carved out their own economic niches and have done very well in the past 3 years.

The countries couldn't be any more different from one another. Their brief moment of unity was in declaring their independence, forming a memorable human chain across the three countries. However, since then it has been each country to its own, as they compete with each for European and other foreign investment.

There have been many other books written on the subject of Baltic independence and nationhood since Lieven offered this timely portrait. It is best to balance Lieven's account against other sources. But, at the time it was it was written, it was a very welcome book as it put forward the case for Baltic independence.

Rating:
Summary: Dated but good introduction to the Baltics
Review: Unfortunately, this book is now badly dated. So much has happened in the wake of the 91 revolution that the Baltic countries look much different than those Lieven presents in this book. However, his telling of the revolution and some of the events that led up to it provide the reader with a good background into the re-emergence of the Baltic nations.

Lithuania stands out because it was the first of the Baltics to physically make its case. Estonia had actually drafted its declaration of independence first but was afraid to make the first step. Not so with Lithuania, led by the charismatic Vytautus Landsbergis, a well-regarded composer, Lithuania proudly stood its ground against the Soviet tanks. With shades of the Prague Spring lurking in the shadows. Lithuania dubbed it the Singing Revolution, a nation well known for its folk songs. The people sung these sungs well into the night.

However, many of the prophecies Lieven fortold in this book failed to hold true. Although Estonia had the jump on the Baltics economically, thanks to its strong ties with Finland, the others soon caught up. Estonia's Hansabank continues to dominate banking, but Latvia and Lithuania have carved out their own economic niches and have done very well in the past 3 years.

The countries couldn't be any more different from one another. Their brief moment of unity was in declaring their independence, forming a memorable human chain across the three countries. However, since then it has been each country to its own, as they compete with each for European and other foreign investment.

There have been many other books written on the subject of Baltic independence and nationhood since Lieven offered this timely portrait. It is best to balance Lieven's account against other sources. But, at the time it was it was written, it was a very welcome book as it put forward the case for Baltic independence.