The Survival of LATVIA

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The Survival of LATVIA

• Britta Suppes
• Geog. 308
• Spring 2003

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Latvijas Republika
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Country Basics

• Size 24, 938 sq. mi.
• Population 2.5 million
• Language Latvian
• Religion
• 1 Protestant,
• 2 Roman Catholic
• 3 Russian Orthodox
• Capital Riga
• Government Parliamentary Democracy

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• Ethnic Composition
• -Latvian 57.6
• -Polish 2.5
• -Russian 29.6
• -Ukrainian 2.7
• -Belarusian 4.1

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I. HISTORY

• Tribal Development,
• 900 A.D.
• Latgallians
• Couronians
• Selonians
• Semigallians

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2
1 - Lithuanians, 2 - Couronians, 3 -
Semigallians, 4 - Selonians, 5 - Samogitians,
6 - Nadruvians, 7 - Prussians, 8 - Jotvingi
ans, 9 - Skalvians, 10 - Latgallians, 11 - l
ithuanizated Baltic tribes
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4
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• Germanic Crusaders, 1200s
• Establishment of Riga, 1201
• Catholic Missionaries
• Tribal development ceases
• Territory marked by German castles

Riga, 1547
The seal of Bishop Albert, founder of Riga
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Segulda Order Castle Ruins, built 1212
Turaida, Ruins of Bishop Alberts Castle
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• Swedish Rule, 1600s
• Polish-Swedish War, 1600-1629
• Protestant religion introduced
• Occupation of Riga
• Revival of economy serfdom abolished

The Swedish Gate, built after the
Swedes gained occupation of Riga
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• Russian Rule, 1700s
• The Great Northern War (1700-1721)
• Russia vs. Sweden
• Vidzeme and Riga under Russian Rule
• Latgale and Kurzeme annexed by Russia

Peter the Great
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• National Awakening
• The movement of New-Latvians
• Nov., 18, 1918, Proclamation of Independence
• Economy booming

A monument of Latvias first president, Janis
Cakste
Proclamation of Independence
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• WORLD WAR II and SOVIET ANNEXATION
• 1940, annexation by USSR
• Holocaust of 90 of Latvian Jews
• 1941-1945, German invasion and liberation
• 1945, re-annexation by USSR
• Death, deportation, devastation of Latvian
  people
  
• Latvia made an S.S.R
• Annexation never recognized by U.S.

Latvian SSR flag and Coat of Arms
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• SOVIET ANNEXATIONS
• 1/3 of ethnic Latvians killed, deported, or
  relocated
  
• Collective farming implemented
• Latvia Industrialized
• Hundreds of thousands of Soviets relocated to
  Latvia
  
• Reduce ethnic Latvians pop. From 77 to 50
• Industrial workers and military
• Primarily in Latgale and Riga
• Russian Orthodox religion brought with

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• Restoration of the Declaration of Independence
• Relaxation of Soviet regime by Gorbachev
• Latvians determined to regain independence
• August 21, 1991, Latvia declares independence

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II. Latvian Majority vs. Russian Minority

• Eastern border shared with Russia
• Annexation of Latvia and Russian Rule
  (1700-1918)
  
• Russification of Latvia in Soviet era (1940-91)
• Ethnic Russians concentrated in cities
• Riga, Daugavpils, Latgale region

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Russian Minority and Language Tensions

• Latvian language proficiency test
• Since 1992 Law on Languages
• Language inspectors authorized to enter companies
  and test employees
  
• Language Police
• Russians are learning Latvian in school
• Most Latvians are bilingual
• Russians as majority pop. in Riga
• Street signs, etc. all in Latvian
• Names Latvianized
• Naturalization process
• Russians born in Latvia are considered aliens
  and must acquire citizenship
  
• EU recognizes Latvian as the official language of
  Latvia
  
• EU also recognizes lesser used languages and
  promotes minority protection
  

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• Restoration of the Declaration of Independence
• Self-ruled country after almost 800 years of
  foreign occupation
  
• 700,000 Soviets in Latvia become stateless
• All former (pre-1940) citizens have citizenship
  restored
  
• Regardless of ethnicity
• Latvians become majority at 57.6 (2000 est)
• Russians become minority at 29.6 (2000)

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III. Restoration of Latvia since 1991

• Political Stability
• Parliamentary Democracy
• President
• Prime Minister
• Constitution
• New govt determined for a rapid recovery
• Freedom allowed access to the outside world

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• Economic Security
• Transition from agriculture to service sector
• 56 to 71 in 2001
• Unemployment only 7.6
• Trade relationships cultivated with Baltics and
  Europe
  
• Access to major trading routes
• Daugava River
• Ice free ports on the Baltic Sea
• Liepaja, Ventspils, Bay of Riga
• Natural resources
• Amber, Peat, Dolomite, Limestone, and timber
• Admittance to NATO and EU, 2004

Ventspils free port
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• Natural Environment
• Clean up of Soviet environmental degradation
• Appreciation of natural environment in Latvia
• Renewed pride in country
• Goals established to improve air, water, and
  land
  
• Est. of National Parks, Nature Areas, and
  Protected Areas
  
• Large scale efforts of preservation and
  conservation
  
• Eco-tourism

Gauja Nat. Park
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• Cultural Restoration
• Latvian language established as State Language
• Minorities given the opportunity to learn
  Latvian
  
• Many older Russians have not learned yet
• Tribal Regions recognized
• Vidzeme
• Kurzeme
• Latgale
• Zemgale

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3
4
1
2
1. Kurzeme 2. Zemgale
3. Vidzeme 4. Latgale
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KURZEME
-Western and Eastern Kurzeme Uplands
-Untouched forested bands -White sandy beaches on
Baltic Sea
-Venta River -Ecotourism
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VIDZEME
-Vidzeme Uplands -Bordering Estonia -Daugava Riv
er in the South -Gulf of Riga to the west -Riga
located in this region -Elevated and hilly landsc
ape -Gauja National Park and River -Sandstone Bl
uffs
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ZEMGALE
-Extends from the Gulf of Riga down to Belarusian
border -Middle lowland area by Daugava River -Co
ntains the majority of arable land most
profitable -Oldest and tallest pine trees
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LATGALE

• -Uplands, lowlands, peat bogs, marshes,
• forests, lakes
• The Land of Blue Lakes
• Primary region of Russian inhabitation
• Catholicism still widely practiced from
• Germanic rule

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• Celebration of Ethnic holidays
• Summer Solstice festival (Jani)
• Independence Day, Nov. 18
• Culture preserved in Folklore and tradition

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IV. SURVIVAL OF LATVIA

• Ethnic Latvians resilient under 800 years of
  foreign rule and occupation.
  
• Able to gain independence and become a recognized
  country and nation.
  
• Resistance of Western European culture despite
  influence of traders and invaders

Freedom Monument
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• Kept ancient Baltic language alive
• 1.4 million native speakers in Latvia
• 140, 000 speakers abroad

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Basic Latvian Phrases YES JÁ jah NO NÉ neh
PLEASE LÚDZU loohdzoo THANK YOU PALDIES p
aldeeasssnm GOOD MORNING LABRÍT labreet GO
OD AFTERNOON LABDIEN labdeean
GOOD NIGHT AR LABU NAKTI ar laboo nakti
GOOD-BYE UZ REDZÉSANOS ooz redzehshanwasWHAT
IS YOUR NAME? KÁ JÚS SAUC? kah yoohss sowts
MY NAME IS... MANI SAUC... mani sowts
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• Folklore important to Latvian nationhood
• Oral records of Latvian culture
• Rich with literature, symbolism, tradition
• Continue to act as an essential part of
  contemporary Latvia
  
• Over 1.2 million texts identified
• Over 30, 000 songs identified

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• Currently thriving politically, economically, and
  socially
  
• A post-Cold War success story
• Problems remain in working with the Russian
  minority

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ANY QUESTIONS?