
Imagining the Nation
History, Modernity, and Revolution in Latvia
Daina Stukuls Eglitis(Author)
Pennsylvania State University Press
Published on 15. August 2004
Book
Paperback/Softback
280 pages
978-0-271-02393-9 (ISBN)
Description
Every epoch produces its own notions of social change, and the post-Communist societies of Eastern Europe are no exception. Imagining the Nation explores the fate of contemporary Latvia, a small country with a big story that is relevant for anyone wishing to better understand the nature of post-Communist transitions.
As Latvia and other former Soviet-bloc countries seek to rebuild and transform their societies, what is the central dynamic at work? In Imagining the Nation, Daina Stukuls Eglitis finds that in virtually all aspects of life the guiding sentiment among Latvians has been a desire for normality in the wake of the "deformations" that marked the half-century of Soviet rule. In seeking to return to normality, many people look to the West for models; others look back in time to the period of Latvian independence from 1918 to 1940 before the years of Soviet domination. Ultimately, the changes in Latvia and other Eastern European countries are closely tied to a vital reimagining of the past, as the logic of progress long associated with "revolution" is amalgamated with nostalgia for what is gone. The radiant utopias of revolution give way to widely shared aspirations for a return to the normal in politics, place names, private property, and even gender relations.
Eglitis draws upon published and unpublished documents, campaign posters, maps, and monuments, as well as interviews with Latvians from all walks of life. The resulting picture of life in contemporary Latvia offers fresh perspective on a dilemma facing millions throughout the post-Communist world.
As Latvia and other former Soviet-bloc countries seek to rebuild and transform their societies, what is the central dynamic at work? In Imagining the Nation, Daina Stukuls Eglitis finds that in virtually all aspects of life the guiding sentiment among Latvians has been a desire for normality in the wake of the "deformations" that marked the half-century of Soviet rule. In seeking to return to normality, many people look to the West for models; others look back in time to the period of Latvian independence from 1918 to 1940 before the years of Soviet domination. Ultimately, the changes in Latvia and other Eastern European countries are closely tied to a vital reimagining of the past, as the logic of progress long associated with "revolution" is amalgamated with nostalgia for what is gone. The radiant utopias of revolution give way to widely shared aspirations for a return to the normal in politics, place names, private property, and even gender relations.
Eglitis draws upon published and unpublished documents, campaign posters, maps, and monuments, as well as interviews with Latvians from all walks of life. The resulting picture of life in contemporary Latvia offers fresh perspective on a dilemma facing millions throughout the post-Communist world.
Reviews / Votes
"This well-documented study is a significant contribution to t he scholarly literature on postcommunist transition and includes a useful bibliography of Latvian- and English- language sources."-R. P. Peters Choice "This book makes a significant, groundbreaking contribution to the study of Soviet and post-Soviet societies."
-Walter C. Clemens, Jr. Slavic Review
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
Pennsylvania
United States
Target group
Professional and scholarly
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
21 Halftones, black and white
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 21 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-271-02393-9 (9780271023939)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Daina Eglitis is Assistant Professor of Sociology at George Washington University.
Content
Contents
Acknowledgments
List of Illustrations
1. (Re)Constructing Normality in Post-Communism
2. From Opposition to Independence: Social Movements in Latvia, 1986-1991
3. Normalizing Politics and Politicizing Normality
4. Transforming Boundaries: Space, Place, and Normality
5. (Re)Constructing Gender in Post-Communism
6. Transformation and Normalization: A Conclusion to the Study
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Acknowledgments
List of Illustrations
1. (Re)Constructing Normality in Post-Communism
2. From Opposition to Independence: Social Movements in Latvia, 1986-1991
3. Normalizing Politics and Politicizing Normality
4. Transforming Boundaries: Space, Place, and Normality
5. (Re)Constructing Gender in Post-Communism
6. Transformation and Normalization: A Conclusion to the Study
Notes
Bibliography
Index