Formation of historical memory of the first independence period in Latvia in the Perestroika years, 1987–1990

Abstract

The author analyses the evolution of a new historical narrative in Latvia during the era of Perestroika, a period marked by the emergence of numerous public initiatives springing from political and social movements. One of the key initiatives was the restoration of the memory of ‘forgotten pages of history’, namely events and individuals who had been erased from the historical record in the Soviet Union for ideological reasons. Given that the restoration of state sovereignty was a central objective of this period, the “revival” of commemorative dates related to the history of the Republic of Latvia’s first independence (1918–1940) was a logical consequence of the search for one’s roots. A number of historical events were not only integrated into the collective memory but also referenced in political documents designed to reinstate national sovereignty. One of the primary objectives of this process was to construct a new historical narrative that would assert continuity and legal identity between the Republic of Latvia of the interwar period and the one that emerged in the late Soviet era, seeking to secede from the USSR and regain its lost independence. The formulation of the doctrine of national continuity entailed, on the one hand, the pursuit of reference points that would serve as the basis for a new state and national identity, and, on the other hand, encompassed a public discourse on the “black pages” of history, reflecting the aspiration to overcome the challenging historical legacy associated with the loss of independence in 1940 and to establish a framework for legitimate international relations.