Lessons 6 · 1 lessons · Sh. Ergashev, B. Xodjayev, J. Abdullayev. World History (1991–2017): textbook for Grade 11 of secondary schools and for students of secondary specialised and vocational institutions. 1st edition. “Turon-Iqbol”, Tashkent, 2018
6
The Baltic states, 1991–2017
Textbook: pp. 29–32
GoalDescribe how the Baltic states restored independence, joined the EU and NATO, and the issues of citizenship and security that they face.
New words
the Baltic Way, the human chain of 23 August 1989 across the three republics · Boltiq yo‘licitizenship · fuqarolikthe Schengen Area, where border checks between members were abolished · Shengen hududithe euro, the common currency of the eurozone · yevro
Explanation
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania were incorporated into the USSR in 1940; the Baltic states and most Western states regard this as an illegal occupation, while Russia does not accept that term. On 23 August 1989 a human chain called the “Baltic Way” stretched across the three republics. Lithuania declared the restoration of independence on 11 March 1990 and Latvia on 4 May 1990; on 13 January 1991 fourteen civilians died in Vilnius in a clash with Soviet troops near the television tower. After the events of August 1991 Estonia (20 August) and Latvia made independence complete, and the USSR recognized them on 6 September. All three joined NATO on 29 March 2004 and the European Union on 1 May; Estonia adopted the euro in 2011, Latvia in 2014 and Lithuania in 2015. In Estonia and Latvia citizenship was restored mainly to people who were citizens before 1940 and their descendants, while others could obtain it by naturalization, which left a share of the Russian-speaking population without citizenship. Russia criticizes such policies, while the Baltic governments explain them as protecting the state language and independence.
Worked examples
The citizenship question: in 1991 Lithuania offered citizenship to all permanent residents, since most of the population were Lithuanians. In Estonia and Latvia, where the share of Russians was large, naturalization required conditions such as a language test.
Closer ties with Europe: NATO (29 March 2004) – a security guarantee; the European Union (1 May 2004) – the single market; the Schengen Area (December 2007) – movement without border checks; the euro – a common currency.
Class activity
Sketch a two-coloured graph of the “Baltic tigers” period (early 2000s – 2007) and the crisis of 2008–2009: write the likely causes of growth and of decline.
Practice
1
Name the Baltic states and their capitals.
Estonia – Tallinn, Latvia – Riga, Lithuania – Vilnius.
2
What happened in Vilnius on 13 January 1991?
Fourteen civilians died in a clash with Soviet troops near the television tower.
3
How did Lithuania differ from Estonia and Latvia on citizenship?
Lithuania gave citizenship to all permanent residents; in Estonia and Latvia it was mainly restored to descendants of pre-1940 citizens, and others had to naturalize.
4
Why did the 2008–2009 crisis hit the Baltic economies hard?
Their growth relied heavily on foreign capital and credit; when the inflow shrank, output fell sharply, unemployment rose and many people left to work abroad.