Nation-building in the Baltic states : transforming governance, social welfare, and security in northern Europe / Gundar J. King, David E. McNabb.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

K̦enin̦š-Kings, Gundars, author.

McNabb, David E., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Nation-building--Baltic States.

Nation-building.

Post-communism.

Education and state.

Social policy.

Baltic States--Politics and government--1991-.

Baltic States.

Politics and government.

Baltic States--Social policy.

Education and state--Baltic States.

National security--Baltic States.

National security.

Post-communism--Baltic States.

Physical Description:

xviii, 266 pages : illustrations, maps

Place of Publication:

Boca Raton, FL : CRC Press, [2015]

Summary:

The product of more than twenty years of research, first-person observations, discussions, and policy analyses, Nation-Building in the Baltic States: Transforming Governance. Social Welfare, and Security in Northern Europe explores the characteristics of the Baltic states as positioned in the northeast corridor in terms of military strife and polity development such as democratization. It details governments' efforts to abet transparency and trust by way of developing new public and private institutions for advancements such as innovation and private wealth creation. The book examines the effects of various factors of economic and social adjustments in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The authors explore the opportunities and problems that have shaped the region's progress in the process of rebuilding democratic institutions and nation-states after regaining their independence. They then describe the region's progress in laying the critical internal foundation necessary for maintaining their political independence. The book also reviews the progress made in strengthening what the authors believe are key social functions of government in what the EU describes as its social market system: the provision of social welfare services that meet the needs of all. The book concludes with a realistic picture of future hurdles for this region, looking at lingering challenges and regional instabilities, policy mistakes not to be made again, and recommendations for national planning and resource management. Going beyond a massive, single explanation of recent Baltic developments, the book provides a broad picture of development of social and political trends and insights with separate evaluations of issues in the process of national transformation. It provides a foundation examining the forces that will shape the future of the Baltic states. Book jacket.

Contents:

1 Transformation Challenges 1

Historical Perspective 1

World War I and the Interwar Years 3

World War II and Beyond 4

Geographic Influences 5

Geopolitical Influences 7

Russian Revanchist Policies 7

Russian Power in Central Europe 9

Cultural Influences 10

Demographic Influences 11

Shrinking Populations 11

Economic Influences 14

Conclusion 18

2 Transforming the Polity 21

Establishing a Government Structure 21

Evolutionary Transformation 22

Stages of Transformation 23

Stage One Transformation: 1990-1994 25

First-Stage Reforms 26

Overcoming Barriers 27

International Assistance 28

First-Stage Reform in Estonia 28

First-Stage Reforms in Latvia 29

First-Stage Reforms in Lithuania 30

Second-Stage Government Reforms: 1995-2003 31

Second-Stage Reforms in Estonia 31

Second-Stage Reforms in Latvia 32

Second-Stage Reforms in Lithuania 35

Third-Stage Government Reforms: 2004-2013 36

Third-Stage Reforms in Estonia 36

Unresolved Problems 37

Third-Stage Reforms in Larvia 38

Third-Stage Reforms in Lithuania 39

Conclusion 41

3 Shaping the Nation State 43

Six Stages of Change 44

Adopting Democracy and the Rule of Law 45

Autocratic States Endure 46

The Baltic States as Free, Pluralistic Societies 48

System Transformation 51

Changing the Rules 52

Changes Needed for Nation-State Status 52

Change Indicators 53

Factors Resisting Change 54

The Human Factor 54

The Minority Factor in Nation Building 55

Minorities in Estonia 55

Russian-Speaking Minorities in Latvia 57

Minorities in Lithuania 60

The Polish Minority 60

The Russian Minority 62

Conclusion 63

4 Building Social Capital 65

Rules and Norms 67

Networks and Social Interaction 68

Social Networks and Alliances 69

Cooperative Institutions 69

Trust as Social Capital 70

Corruption Affects Trust 71

Measuring Trust 72

Trust in Government (TGF) 76

Trust in Society Factor (TSF) 77

Social Networking Factor (SNS) 78

Political Efficacy Factor (PEF) 79

Faith in the Future Scale (FFF) 80

Civism as Social Capital 81

Conclusion 82

5 Forming Civil Society 85

Civil Society Defined 85

Foundations of Civil Society 86

EU Support for Civil Society Development 88

Origin of the Concept 89

Civil Society Sustainability 90

Civil Society Policy in Estonia 91

Civil Education 92

Citizens' Associations 92

Government-Nongovernment Partnerships 93

Involvement and Participation 94

Increasing Charity and Philanthropy 95

Media in Estonia 96

Civil Society in Latvia 96

Civic Activity 97

Media Involvement 97

Equal Opportunity 98

Promoting Civic Education 99

Civil Society in Lithuania 99

Legal Basis for NGOs 100

Progress of NGOs in Lithuania 101

Internal and External Support 102

The Media and Civil Society 103

Conclusion 105

6 Nurturing Democratic Institutions 107

Democratic Institutions 108

Democratic Institutions in the Baltic States 109

Growth of Political Parties 111

Political Parties in Estonia 112

Political Parties in Latvia 112

Political Parties in Lithuania 113

A Legacy of Corruption 116

Forms of Corruption 116

Measuring Corruption 118

Anti-Corruption Efforts in Estonia 120

Anti-Corruption Efforts in Latvia 120

Anti-Corruption in Lithuania 121

Revitalizing Voter Participation 122

Why the Decline in Voting 122

Voter Participation in Estonia 123

Voter Participation in Latvia 124

Voter Participation in Lithuania 125

Conclusion 126

7 Transforming Social Welfare 129

Comparing Traditions 131

Denning Social Welfare 131

The Core Social Safety Net 132

Evolution of Public Welfare Systems 133

Soviet Occupation Systems 133

Transition Period 134

Theoretical Improvements 135

Need-Related Theories 137

Social Welfare Status after 20-Plus Years 137

The European Union Core Social Model 138

Selected Features of National Welfare Policies 139

Social Welfare Policies in Estonia 140

The Extant System 141

Social Welfare and Health Policies in Latvia 143

Unemployment Assistance 143

Welfare System Funding 145

Healthcare Providers 148

Social Welfare and Health Policies in Lithuania 148

Baltic States' Overall Weil-Being 150

Conclusion 151

8 Transforming Education Systems 153

Slow Reform Progress 154

Varying Influence 155

Education and Development 155

Education System Foundations 158

Phases of Education Transformation 161

The First Phase of Education Formation 161

The Second Phase 161

The Third Phase 161

The Fourth Phase 162

The Fifth Phase 163

The Sixth Phase 163

Transforming Education in Estonia 164

Tertiary (Post-Secondary) Education 165

Transforming Education in Latvia 166

Primary, Secondary, and Vocational Education 166

Tertiary (Post-Secondary) Education 167

Transforming Education in Lithuania 170

Primary, Secondary, and Adult Education 170

Tertiary (Post-Secondary) Education 171

Halfway Point 172

Conclusion 173

9 Transforming Fiscal Governance 175

Reform Progress 176

Functional Relationships 177

Analysis Limitations 179

Fiscal Governance in the Baltic States 183

The Role of Budgeting 184

Budgeting in Estonia 185

Developing Strategy 187

Budgeting in Latvia 188

Budgeting in Lithuania 191

Additional Objectives 195

Conclusion 196

10 Shaping Baltic States' Security 199

Security and Independence 200

Increasing Security Risks 203

Evolution of Post-Soviet Russian Policies 204

The Baltic States, Russia, and NATO 207

Relations with Former Soviet Republics 208

Rebuilding Russian Armed Forces 209

Baltic Defense Capability 214

Economic Relationships 216

Cultural Enemies 216

Paternalistic Hegemony 217

Energy Security 218

Weighing the Balance 218

Conclusion 219

11 Managing Transformation 221

Planning for the Future 224

Principal Priorities 225

Common Problems, Separate Goals 226

Major Long-Term Issues 229

Demographic Time Bomb 229

Fiscal Governance 230

Unemployment 230

Education and Development 232

Conclusion 233.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 235-258) and index.

ISBN:

1482250713

9781482250718

OCLC:

876140727

Publisher Number:

99960021473