The Appearance of Latvia on the Map of Europe. Between the Objective Prerequisites and Subjective Conditions for the Formation of the State in 1917—1920

Abstract

The proclamation of independent Latvia in 1920 should be analyzed from the standpoint of political realism as a theory of international relations. In this regard, we can talk about four large-scale external factors that had a fundamental impact on the formation of the Latvian statehood in the period 1917-1920: 1) the Russian factor; 2) the German factor; 3) the influence of the Entente countries; 4) the influence of neighboring states of the region (Estonia, Poland, Finland, Sweden). The main internal factors that determined the state independence of Latvia were the rapid economic development of the region, primarily due to close ties with the Russian imperial market, and the strengthening of ideas of national independence among the political elites of the future Latvia. It is concluded that independent Latvia appeared on the map of Europe as a result of complex historical processes and as part of a change in the general model of Europe's development, moving from empires to nation states.