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Baltic countries

Encyclopedia : B : BA : BAL : Baltic countries

For disambiguation, see Baltic.
The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania
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The three Baltic states: Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania

The terms "Baltic countries", "Baltic Sea countries", "Baltic states", and "Balticum" refer to slightly different combinations of countries in the general area surrounding the Baltic Sea.

Contents

Baltic Sea countries and Balticum

Geographically, the Baltic Sea countries are countries that have access to the Baltic Sea: Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, and Sweden.

The Baltic Sea countries, together with Norway, Iceland and the European Union form the Council of the Baltic Sea States.

Balticum is the geographic term used in several languages, including Scandinavian and German, which usually denotes the territory corresponding to modern Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. In some contexts, the term Balticum includes the historically or culturally German-dominated lands, or provinces, of Estonia, Livonia, Courland and Latgale (corresponding to modern Estonia and Latvia), as well as sometimes East Prussia, while Lithuania is sometimes excluded.

Baltic states

The Baltic states refer to Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were controlled by the Soviet Union during 1940-1941 and 1944(1945)-1991, and have been members of the European Union and the NATO alliance since 2004. Today the three countries are liberal democracies, parliamentary republics, and very quickly growing market economies. Based on history (especially post-war history) and its political system, Finland is seen as a Nordic country rather than a Baltic state (though was often considered as such before the Second World War).

A contemporary transnational Euroregion encompasses the islands of the Baltic countries.
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A contemporary transnational Euroregion encompasses the islands of the Baltic countries.

It is often indicated that Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia have little else in common other than their geographic proximity, similar small size, and to lesser degree, a shared recent history. Estonia aspires in direction of their Finnic brethren and the Nordic countries, while Lithuania focuses on its connection to Poland and Central Europe, and Latvia concentrates on the transit between Russia and the Western countries. Some political scientists consider Lithuania as part of Central Europe, due to its historical focus on the European mainland.

In the Cold War context, the four Baltic States were considered to be a part of Eastern Europe, but culturally and historically, it is more appropriate to view Estonia, Finland, and parts of Latvia as part of Northern Europe, Lithuania and parts of Latvia as part of Central Europe, where the historical impact of the Hanseatic League, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, the Russian Empire, and the German Empire have been of crucial importance. For Latvia, Estonia, and Finland, historical connections to Denmark and Sweden have also been important.

It should be noted that although politically the present-day Baltic countries are republics, the term "Baltic republics" often refers to something different: the Soviet republics of Baltic countries.

The term "state" is used as a synonym of "sovereign country", which is distinct from non-sovereign states (the kind to be found in federations and confederations). Before the fall of the Soviet Union, the term "Baltic state" was used by some English speakers to hint that the four countries were under Soviet influence or occupation. In Finland the term "Finlandisation" was used to describe the heavy Soviet influence on her politics.

The Baltic states are the only three former Soviet Republics that are not affiliated in any way with the Commonwealth of Independent States.

History of the Baltic states

The histories of today's Baltic countries took a first "common turn" in the 13th century when Christianity and feudalism were effectively introduced to the region by the invasion of the crusaders from the west (German Sword Brethren, Denmark) and the conversion of Lithuania's rulers from Paganism to Christianity. Over the subsequent centuries, these lands became a battlefield between the Teutonic Order, the Hanseatic League, Poland, Denmark, Sweden, Muscovy, and other Russian principalities. However, Lithuania became the only of the current three to establish its own state as Grand Duchy of Lithuania in 1252, which later evolved into a political superpower of the region (in personal union with Poland).

By about 1582, almost the whole territory of the Baltic states (other than northern Estonia) was under the overlordship of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the Baltic provinces (Curonia, Livonia, Estonia and Ingria) and Lithuania in the 19th century, albeit with names and borders different from the present-day countries, were part of the Russian Empire.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania became sovereign nations in the aftermath of World War I. They declared independence in 1918, fought independence wars against German freikorps and Bolshevist Russia, and were recognized as independent countries in 1920.

Prior to World War II, Finland was occasionally considered a fourth Baltic state. For example, in the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of August 1939, Finland was mentioned as one of the Baltic states when relinquished by Nazi Germany to the Soviet "sphere of interest" (quotation required). Since 1917, after the country's independence, Finland and Scandinavia re-established their former connections and a community of similar states known in the English language as the Nordic countries emerged.

Following the Nazi-Soviet pact of 1939, the Soviet Army entered eastern Poland as well as military bases in the Baltic states which were granted after USSR had threatened the three countries with military invasion. In June 1940, the Red Army occupied the whole territory of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, and installed new, pro-Soviet governments in all three countries. Following rigged elections, in which only pro-communist candidates were allowed to run, the newly "elected" parliaments of the three countries formally applied to "join" USSR in August 1940 and were annexed into it as the Estonian SSR, the Latvian SSR, and the Lithuanian SSR.

The Soviet control of the Baltic states was interrupted by Nazi German invasion of the region in 1941. The German occupation lasted until late 1944 (in Courland, until early 1945), when the countries were re-occupied by the Red Army. In all three countries, Baltic partisans, known colloquially as the Forest Brothers, waged unsuccessful guerilla warfare against the Soviet occupation for the next eight years in a bid to regain their nations' independence.

The three Baltic nations re-declared their independence between 1990 and 1991, and their independence was recognized by the Soviet Union on September 6, 1991. An integration with the Western world and with Western Europe was chosen as the main strategic goal.

Rather than new states, they declared themselves to be restorations of the pre-war republics, thus further emphasizing their contention (adhered to worldwide, but contested by some Russian governments) that Soviet domination over the Baltic nations during the Cold War period had been an illegal occupation and annexation.

In 2002 the Baltic nations applied to become members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). Membership of NATO was duly achieved on March 29, 2004, and accession to the EU took place on May 1, 2004.

Language and Culture in the Baltic states

Despite the three nations' similarities in culture and history, their languages belong to two distinct language families. The Latvian and Lithuanian languages make up the group of Baltic languages which belongs to the Indo-European language family.Along with the defunct Old Prussian language, Latvian and Lithuanian can be linked to the Balto-Slavic group of the Indo-European languages. The student of both Slavic and Latvian or Lithuanian languages will find numerous common roots. The Estonian language, on the other hand, is a non-Indo-European language and instead belongs to the Baltic-Finnic subgroup of the Finno-Ugric languages, sharing close cultural and historical ties with the Finnish language and culture.

The peoples of the Baltic countries also belong to different Christian denominations. Believers in Latvia and Estonia are mostly Lutheran (except for Russian minorities in these countries, which are predominantly Orthodox), while Lithuania is principally Catholic.

Due to a long period of Germanic domination, starting in the middle ages, German language also has an important role. Its role diminished greatly after World War II when the Baltic states were forcefully absorbed into the Soviet Union, but it remains one of three main foreign languages taught in schools (the other two being English and Russian).During the period of Soviet control, Russian became the most commonly studied foreign language at all levels of schooling, but knowledge of German remained fairly common among the older generations. After the Baltic states achieved independence in 1991, while German made a comeback as a language of study it was English that became the most commonly studied foreign language, and the role of Russian language in education fell sharply. The Baltic states have historically also been in the Swedish and Russian spheres of influence. Following the period of Soviet domination, ethnic Russian immigrants from former USSR and their descendants today make up a sizable minority in the Baltic states, particularly in Latvia (about one-third of the population) and Estonia (one-fourth of the population).

Tourism of the Baltic states

The Baltic states are in fact very different, despite being frequently grouped together. They are considered to be sparsely-populated countries, known for unspoilt nature, amber and medieval cities, mostly former members of the Hanseatic League. Today, the Baltic states are dynamic countries with a young population and cities offering great cultural opportunities, and cozy pubs and restaurants. The Baltic countries are known to offer affordable vacations.

A favourite place to visit in Estonia is the capital city Tallinn (Reval), an old, walled medieval town with several cathedrals and churches, romantic little streets, and a harbour with ferry lines to Sweden and Finland. The tourist area of the city can be awash with foreign visitors. In Southern Estonia, there is the famous old university town of Tartu (Dorpat). Estonia offers beautiful islands such as Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, and lakes such as Lake Peipus. Estonia is ideal for recreation in free nature and in the woods. Long distance buses provide frequent and affordable links within Estonia.

The Latvian capital, Riga, is the largest city of the Baltics, with about 800,000 inhabitants. Riga is famous for its Art Nouveau architecture, broad boulevards, and cosmopolitan flair. The Latvian countryside is similar to that found in Scandinavia, but is much more affordable. Latvia offers a long Baltic Sea coastline with harbour towns like Liepāja and Ventspils, and seaside resorts like Jūrmala. The countryside offers picturesque little towns, often with medieval centres.

Most visits to Lithuania start with capital, Vilnius (Polish/Jewish: Wilno/Wilna), which is also known as "Northern Jerusalem" because of its many churches and its formerly significant Jewish minority. Remains of Polish, Jewish, and Lithuanian cultures can be found in the old town, which is one of the largest in Central Europe and recognized as UNESCO World Heritage site. Close to the capital is the historical capital of Trakai with its lake island-castle, as well as the country's early days capital Kernavė, a prominent archeological site, often referred to as "Baltic Troy", also included into the UNESCO World Heritage list. Besides, the site of the geographic Centre of Europe as indicated by the French Geographical Institute lies in the vicinity of the capital. The country offers unspoiled nature with its many forests, lakes and the sandy seaside. The stunning Curonian Spit sand peninsula at the Baltic Sea is also in the UNESCO World Heritage list. On the way from the capital to the sea-side is Lithuania's interwar capital Kaunas. The city boasts a Hanseatic old town, while the modern area contains probably the densest concentration of pre-war Functionalism architecture in Europe. In the north, on the way to Riga and close to the city of Siauliai lies the unique Hill of Crosses - an impressive site of Catholic pilgrimage and faith. In the south, near the spa-town of Druskininkai, is "Stalin's World" (Grutas park) site which packs monuments to Lenin and other Soviet leaders, which were erected all over Lithuania by Soviets and removed after they left.

References and Notes

Related statistics

The largest cities in Baltic states, by population, are: The largest cities in Baltic states, by population of indigenous peoples (Lithuanians, Latvians and Estonians), are:

Other uses

In matters of ecology, biology, or geography, Baltic countries usually refers to all of the countries around the Baltic Sea: Sweden, Norway, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia's Kaliningrad Oblast, Poland, Germany and Denmark.

See also

External links

 

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