Latvia: The Challenges of Change by Artis s> Pabriks Aldis Purs (review)

Abstract

REVIEWS 385 However, Szczerbiakmakesexcellent use of the threefoldconceptualization developed by Richard Katz and Peter Mair of the party central office, the partyin public office, and the partyon the ground though in practice these are not alwayseasy to distinguish.It is a very good book indeed: well written, scholarly,judicious, and informative. Department of Government FRANCES MILLARD University ofEssex Pabriks,Artis and Purs,Aldis. Latvia:7he Challenges of Change. Postcommunist States and Nations. Routledge, London and New York, 200I. xiii + I69 pp. Maps. Notes. Figures. Tables. Bibliography. Index. [50.00. IF as the authors of this work plausibly argue Latvia's 'transitional' phase is now largely at an end, the restorationof independent statehood and the concurrent leap to liberal democracy and the market have themselves generated a new set of challenges. This concise and accessible study details the remarkable progress achieved in the spheres of economic and political reformduring I987-99, yet leaves the readerin no doubt as to the scale of the problemsthat stillneed to be addressedas the countrypreparestojoin NATO and the EuropeanUnion. The opening historical chapter offers a balanced treatment of the period from the late nineteenth centuryto the startof Gorbachev'sperestroika. Pabriks and Pursare clearlywell versed in conceptual issuesof nation and statehood, which they applywith a light touch. The resultis a highly readableaccount of the evolution of modern Latvia.As the countryembarkedon the 'thornyroad to independence' during I987-9I (chapter two), a significantproportion of Latvia's non-titular population threw its weight behind the campaign. This 'honeymoon period' of ethnic relations, however, soon gave way to a more exclusivist discourse on nation-building. The nationality question is a key theme of the third chapter, which examines Latvia'sprogress in the field of democratizationduring i99I-99. Apart from some misreadingof statistics and, hence, the confusingassertionthatthe failureto 'choose themostpopular option (forgrantingcitizenship) [lay] in the inabilityof the new political elite to make unpopular decisions' (p. 77) this section usefullysummarizesthe main positions in the debate and the conflicting logics (to borrow Linz and Stepan's phrase) of the nation-state and democracy. External pressure from the EU and other agencies was instrumental in nudging the Latvian state towards a more pro-integrationistposition by I999, although the nationality question stillremainsmore acute than in neighbouringEstonia.As theauthors rightly suggest, continued ethnic disputes must be viewed within the context of more generalized problems such as low levels of civil participation and widespreadcorruption. The politics chapterconstitutesa usefulintroductionto the main issues,but is rather general, and could perhaps have put more flesh on the conceptual bones. In this respect, the chapter on economics is both richer and more readable. Whilst it relies ratherheavily on MarjaNissinen's Latvia'sTransition 386 SEER, 8i, 2, 2003 toaMarket Economy (Basingstokeand New York,I997) in itsaccountof the early post-Soviet years, it also includes handy information on the more recent difficultiesoccasioned by the Russian crisis of I998. Generally speaking, the situation in Russia during the period in question was indeed 'unbelievably worse' than the Latvian experience. For Pabriksand Purs, this 'comparative misery and hardship factor' (p. 96) has been instrumental in the popular acceptance of economic reform.Whilstthereisundoubtedlysome truthin this, one should not discountthe more positive consensussurroundingthe goal of a 'return to Europe', something that the authors discuss in their concluding chapter on foreign policy. The latter offers an insightful and interesting discussion which is in many ways the highlight of the work. Experiences between the wars and during the I990S have shown the Latvians that the realization of their foreign policy goals depends upon gaining support from 'some of the world powers' (p. 124). As the authorssuggest, 'only integration and interdependence [will] provide "empty-handed"Latviandiplomatswith bargaining power' (pp. I44-45). The processes of EU and NATO enlargement , however, have been to a large extent contingent upon the interplayof 'greatpower' interests.According to Pabriksand Purs, the Baltic States have not understoodthatpullingtogetherwillhelpthemintotheEU. This overlooks thefactthatEU policy, whilstpreachingco-operation,hasalltoo oftendictated competition. As the middle of the three states,Latviahas had a greaterinterest in Baltic co-operation than its neighbours: whereas Estonia has gravitated towardsFinland and LithuaniatowardsPoland in theirpursuitof integration with theWest,LatvianidentityliesmoresquarelywithintheBalticSea Region. This notion standsat the core of the recent 'AmberGateway' initiative,which formsthefocusof an interestingdiscussionhere.Purelyregionalarrangements, of course,mustbe seen...