Lithuania: The Rebirth of a Nation, 1991-1994

FROM THE PUBLISHER

In 1990, the tiny Soviet Republic of Lithuania declared independence and began restoring the mechanisms of independent government and democracy that had been suppressed by its Soviet invaders for half a century. "Lithuania" examines the first years of this rebirth in the face of the legacy of the Soviet occupation. In addition to chronicling the lively chain of events leading to and stemming from the declaration of independence, Alexandra Ashbourne studies the essential components of rebirth: the creation of domestic, foreign, and security policies and the revitalization of an independent economy. Drawing from the personal testimony of Lithuanians closely connected to these events, Ashbourne appraises Lithuania's attempts to rejoin the international community and acquire an effective security guarantee. She concludes that the damage caused by fifty years of Soviet domination created obstacles to the process of rebirth, obstacles that are proving difficult and even impossible to overcome. Readers of "Lithuania" will find its discussions applicable to most former Soviet republics and Eastern Bloc states. The book will be invaluable to students and scholars of Lithuania, Soviet history, and international political policy.

Author Biography: Alexandra Ashbourne is a defense analyst at the Centre for European Reform in London.

SYNOPSIS

Unlike the other two Baltic states of Estonia and Latvia, which have only known independence in the 20th century, Lithuania shared with Poland a vast empire in the 14th and 15th centuries. Keeping its history in mind, Ashbourne (who works as a defense analyst for the Centre for European Reform, a London think-tank) outlines Lithuania's situation from 1991 to 1994, by separately focusing on its domestic policy, foreign relations, defense and security policy, and economy. She finds that if the political situation in Russia remains constant, the independence of Lithuania is assured. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

FROM THE CRITICS

Choice

Offers fresh new insights into Lithuanian political developments. . . . Useful to general readers and researchers alike.

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