Ethnic Conflicts in the Baltic States in Post-soviet Period. Сборник статей

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      Methods and data. The analysis of national identity and ethnic conflicts in Latvia was laid sociological survey conducted in August – September 2011 by prof.A.Gaponenko and prof.M.Rodins of the Latvian Institute of European Studies. Analysis of the ethno-political and social relations in Latvia was carried out before and after the parliamentary elections of 2010. On the background a deepening economic and institutional crisis in Latvia describes and analyzes the radicalization of ethno-political behavior and mass consciousness. Analysis of institutions and actors of the Latvian ethno-democracy is given as a result of internal and external policies.

      Research methods used are a combination of quantitative analysis in the measurement of national identity and ethnic conflicts and qualitative methods to describe the characteristics of the Latvian ethno-democracy. The main intention was to conduct a one pane population studies based on a proportional representative sample of the national socio-demographic and stratification parameters (technical description of the sampling strategy is given in Appendix 1). Polling data were collected through questionnaires, formal interviews with 1,102 respondents in Latvia. Questionnaire, made by Russian and Latvian languages, contains more than 1000 variables and parameters.

      The results of the study. Political identity in the Latvian political process

      National identity can be explained as a set of internalized political and cultural norms and types of behavior that are transformed through political socialization from one generation to another within the appointed ethnic group. Structurally national identity consists of two communities: political identity and ethnic and cultural identity.

      We represent the first general data measuring the political identity of the residents of Latvia. Political identity is generally regarded as the official membership in a political community (or state-territorial entities). According to the selected methodology, political identity is revealed in the process of inclusion in the political community and the internalization of state forming national symbols. In the process of identification with national symbols is formed a collective identity and a sense of continuity. National symbols, hardly affected by the correction time and historical modifications have big ethno mobilizing role in the integration process of nation building.

      Each of the areas of political identification has a specific set of variables, which were selected after a preliminary examination and reflect the empirical values. Moreover, the research attention was focused more on the personal identification using a set of formalized relations with the political community and political symbolism. Based on previous studies of ethno-political processes in Latvia at the Institute of European Studies, as a “working” variables identification with the political community of the respondents were offered: general attachment to Latvia, Latvian independence, support, satisfaction with democracy in Latvia and in relation to the institution of citizenship. Alternative identities refer towards Russia and the European Union in related fields.

      In turn, the forming of personal identity by relating to the ethno-political symbols and values makes it possible to present more clearly the boundaries and content of ethnic cohesion and integrity. To such ethno-cultural and political symbolic markers forming the collective image of the ethnic majority and ethnic minority community, are: national state symbols – national state symbols – the flag and anthem, national holidays – Independence Day (November 18), Day of Restoration of Independence of the Republic of Latvia (May 4), Ligo (June 23), the national monuments – the Freedom Monument in Riga, Monument to the Liberator Soldier in Riga, Latgale’s Mara in Rezekne, national graveyards – Fraternal, Pokrov and Garrison. As an alternative ethno – cultural and political symbols, which reflect the social spectrum of ethnic and cultural identities, into a research instruments were included Russian political symbolism, ethnic and cultural form – the Kremlin in Moscow on Victory Day (May 9), Labor Day (May 1).

      In addition to indicators of ethno-cultural and political importance of research model of political identification includes indicators of personal satisfaction and motivation to stay in Latvia: the desire to be born and live in Latvia. Similar indicators were addressed to the territorial mobility in relation to Russia.

      The consistency of positive images and identifications of members of the titular nationality and ethnic minorities in selected variables, hypothetical forms an ideal model of a successful and integrated political identity in Latvia.

      An overview of the political identity of the inhabitants of Latvia is presented in Table 1. The data show that more than 80 % of the population identify themselves with Latvia, which, in fact, a strong argument in favor of political integration between the ethnic majority and the ethnic minorities. However, the factors of citizenship status and ethnicity sensitivity adjust overall picture of the formal correlation with national identity. Russian and other ethnic minorities significantly lower than Latvians to identify with formal membership with the Latvian state. Moreover, the ethnic Russian almost equally self-identify as with Latvia, as well as with Russia, which, however, is not a contradiction, but only fixes the situation “imposed” identities, both because of the historical co-existence and mobility in an era of rapidly rendering national and state boundaries. The problem rather lies in how the identity of the ethnic majority, subordinated ethnic minorities, generates, or, conversely, negates the ethnic conflict in the framework of the national total.

      The factors that are fundamentally different ethnic majority and ethnic minorities, is an expression of support for the independence of Latvia and the satisfaction of democracy in Latvia. As the data in the table 1, only 13.9 % of Latvian Russians support of Latvia’s independence, believing that “For me, the independence of Latvia has always been one of the most important things.” 18.6 % of respondents are satisfied with Russian democracy in Latvia. Slightly higher rates of support of independence and satisfaction with democracy in Latvia the rest ethnic minorities.

      Table 1. Political identity in Latvia by nationalities (%)*

      Question: People also feel attached to their country…

      Question: To what extent do you support…?

      Questions: To what extent you like or do not like…

      Question: Where do you wish to born/to live?

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