The Best (and the Worst) of Several Worlds: The Shifting Historiographical Concept of Northeastern Europe

Abstract

This article deals with various concepts of space–time constellations related to the countries around the Baltic Sea, in German and Finnish historiography known as ‘Northeastern Europe’. Rooted in German national and historical thinking of the middle of the nineteenth century, the concept of ‘Northeastern Europe’ first emerged in the framework of German spatial perceptions of the southern borderlands of the Baltic Sea. This area was perceived as being dominated by the Germans in terms of culture, politics and economy. After the Second World War, such perceptions ceased to be politically correct and vanished from the agenda of policy makers and historical thinkers. In the 1970s, the German historian Klaus Zernack revitalised the subject, i.e. historical research on the Baltic Sea area, but not the earlier concept. In fact, the Baltic Sea area as a whole became a topic of historical thinking within the framework of Zernack's concept of the spatial divisions in the overall history of Eastern Europe. ‘Northeastern Europe’ now appeared as a synonym for the Baltic Sea area in general, including Russia and Poland as decisive historical factors. In the late 1980s, historical research on the Baltic Sea area became a topic of research also in Great Britain and the Nordic countries. Opening up politically after the implosion of the Soviet Union, the Baltic Sea area became a favourite object of research even in Poland and the Baltic states. Since then, whether there is something like ‘Northeastern Europe’ at all is a much debated question. But despite related concepts and notions the contents of ‘Northeastern Europe’ seem to become more and more congruent with the Baltic Sea area either as such or as a definite part of it.