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

ethnic conflicts, and acquired the status of peripheral social formations of ethnic minorities – such are the results of ethnic politics and political socialization of the population of Latvia.

      In the study, our hypothesis about the political model of Latvia confirmed the existence of a bi-communal divided society: Latvians are focused on the restoration and support of the nation-state and ethnic minorities (mainly Russians) are more focused on achieving political equality and democratic representation.

      Ethno-cultural identity in the Latvian political process

      According to our research, 1996, 2000, 2003, 2011-ies, the institutional dominance of the Latvian nation, with its characteristic resources protection and internal cohesion, combined with the practice of ethnic and linguistic “narcissism” and cultural revanchist. At the same time, the development of ethnic and cultural minorities in Latvia took place in a strictly subordinated the assimilative policy.

      Our conceptual model of ethnic and cultural identity in Latvia includes dimensions ethnic, linguistic, cultural identities and cultural inter-ethnic relations.

      Let us turn to the analysis of ethnic identification. According to the Central Statistical Bureau of Latvia in 2011, the population of Latvia was 62.1 % Latvians, 26.9 % Russians, and 11.0 % of other nationalities. In our study, we used demographic data prior to publication of the results of the national census, so the total number of Latvians was 57.7 %, Russian 30 %, and 12.3 % of other nationalities. Statistical data as well as data from mass surveys show convincingly by numerically superior group of ethnic Latvians, the total number of which increased by 4 % in 2011 and makes more than two thirds of the population. Ethnic identification, according to our research, is not fundamentally different from statistics on ethnicity. More fractional indicators of ethnic identity can clarify the picture. On the question: “Representatives of what ethnic group is in your family?” 94.1 % of Latvians indicated the persons Latvians and 12.2 % – for other ethnic groups. The situation is similar among non-titular nation. In Russian members of their family and friends 78.5 % are ethnic Russian, and 2.7 % – Latvians. Representatives of other ethnic entities also make up the majority of the members of their family and friends.

      Sufficiently cohesive ethnic identity in Latvia is akin a strict differentiation status of ethnic minorities. The question: “Do you think you belong to an ethnic minority?” 6.8 % of Latvians are willing to accept the status of ethnic minorities, 33.7 % – Russian and 55.5 % – persons of other groups (Table 2).

      Inextricably from ethnic identification appears linguistic identity, serving as one of the most important preconditions for nation building. And the possession and use of the language of the titular nation’s ethnic minorities is not only an expression of loyalty to the nation, but also serves as one of the key factors in the integrative processes. Use of national languages zone was tested by reference to the linguistic situation in the family. The question: “What language do you speak at home?” 92.7 % of Latvians are used in their native language family, 7.3 % – 13.4 % and the Russian people of other ethnic groups also use the Latvian language in the family. Conversely, 5.6 % of Latvians speak in his family in Russian, Russian 91.2 %, and 80.6 % use the Russian language in the family.

      On the contrary, the use of Latgal language in the family – does not significant (less than 0.6 %). Among the representatives of the Latgal nation of amount of use of the language does not exceed 3 %. It should be noted that ethnic minorities in contrast to the Russian demonstrate a greater degree of assimilation into the Latvian society through the Latvian language than the other groups. According to our data, the representatives of all ethnic minority groups highly appreciate significance of the Latvian language in the community and actively express their motivation to learn and use the language of the titular nation. The differences relate to a significant reduction in the use of the Russian language area of Latvians (despite their high level of proficiency in Russian). Also slightly higher the quota use of European languages among ethnic minority groups, especially among the younger generation.

      Linguistic diversity in multicultural and ethnic societies inevitably leads to certain social barriers to communication and discriminatory policies. Linguistic discrimination as a social problem causes anxiety in 27.6 % Latvians, 74.9 % Russians, and 56.8 % in the rest of the ethnic groups. However, the threat of extinction of the Latvian nation and the Latvian language as the catalysts of ethnic conflict does not exceed 20 % of all respondents regardless of nationality. In general, the institutional hegemony of the Latvian language and linguistic assimilation causes a sense of concern among members of ethnic minorities and serve as the reason of ethnic conflicts and migration. Cultural identity as an ethnic identity in Latvia has a distinctly conservative character. Multicultural identity has a significant level of homogenization, internal cohesion and self – defense for distancing itself from other social groups. According to our research, the ethnic groups in Latvia have a high degree of cultural identity, while cross-cultural communication is scarce nature of cultural pluralism and social dialogue. Moreover, the dominant ethno-cultural community of the titular nation has all the institutional and ideological resources for ethnic and cultural hegemony and assimilation. According to the prevailing number of Latvian respondents ethnic minorities must send children to Latvian schools and kindergartens, to support the Latvian cultural organizations, to accept Latvian traditions and other cultural values. Moreover, teaching in schools should be conducted in Latvian. In this regard, it is revealing the attitudes of respondents to the prospect of future development of the culture of ethnic minorities. 26.0 % Latvians, 4.9 % Russians and 10.4 % of other minorities believe that the culture of Russian and other national minorities in Latvia in the future dissolve in the Latvian culture.

      Appeal to the analysis of attitudes and the division of social and ethnic groups and significant cultural symbols are also allows to give a fractional picture of a divided ethnic and cultural identity in Latvia. On the questions: “Who is your national hero?” (Lachplesis, Karlis Ulmanis, Vladimir Lenin, Vladimir Putin, Medvedev), and “Who is your national writer?” (J.Rainis, F.Trasuns, A. Pushkin, T.Shevchenko, Adam Mickiewicz, J.Kolas, Sh.Aleyhm) replies were received, demonstrating the fundamental differences in the existing ethno-cultural communities.

      Table 2.

      Ethnocultural identity in Latvia by nationalities (%)*

      Question: What language do you speak at home?

      Question: Is there a threat of extinction in the Latvian nation and the national language?

      Question: To what extent are you concerned about the prob- lem of language discrimination in Latvia?

      Question: Do you think that Latvians want to take revenge from Russian and other ethnic groups?

      Question: What, in your opinion, the social characteristics of a person are crucial in Latvia?

      Question: What will happen in the future with the culture of ethnic minorities in Latvia?

      Question: Who are your national hero and a writer?

      Question: What, in your opinion, it is necessary to make the non-Latvians to improve inter-ethnic relations in Latvia?

      * This table contains only positive responses (“very attached” and “more attached”, “totally agree” and “agree“).

      Cultural and value-based separation, the sharp demarcation of the ethno-cultural identities in Latvia are obstacles to the conciliation and tolerant of ethnic policy. Based on our research, it can be concluded that in Latvia there is a strong cultural divide between the ethnic majority and the minorities with mutually repelling orientation to multicultural integration.

      Ethnic conflict: causes and extent of leakage

      An important attribute of the analysis of inter-ethnic conflict relations is to identify the sources and causes of these conflicts. However, tracking the causes of ethnic conflicts methods of sociology faces a number of difficulties due to their species diversity, and the absence of clear boundaries between a number visible on the surface and the deeper reasons, rooted in the sphere of mentality and cultural attributes. Each