The Baltic Transformed: Complexity Theory and European SecurityWhy isn't the Baltic region like the Balkans? Why have the Baltic republics not experienced ethnic cleansing, border wars, authoritarian rule, and social chaos? Instead, peace, democracy, and market economies have taken root since the fall of communism. Walter C. Clemens, Jr. here uses complexity theory, which analyzes the role of self-organization in complex adaptive systems, to explain the 'Baltic miracle.' He argues that the theory is a vital tool for understanding the remarkable strides made by Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania since 1991 in coping with the transition to partnership with the new Europe. The Baltic peoples have adapted well to the demands of democracy, a market economy, and a constructive role in world affairs. The achievements of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania in the past decade are the more amazing when considered against the hundreds of years they were dominated by Teutonic knights, Hanseatic merchants, Sweden, Russia, and the USSR. Clemens uses this history as a springboard to analyze how Balts self-organize today to meet the challenges of transition. One of the first books to apply complexity theory to a major sphere of world politics, The Baltic Transformed will provoke constructive debate with its ambitious and well-grounded analysis of not only Baltic developments but European security more generally. Despite its theoretical foundation, the book is written in a clear and accessible style that will make it invaluable for courses on comparative politics, political development, international relations, security, or transition studies. |
Contents
Threat or Partner? | 179 |
NATO and Other Options 20002010 | 201 |
BALTBAT Baltic Peacekeeping Battalion | 209 |
Copyright | |
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The Baltic Transformed: Complexity Theory and European Security Walter C. Clemens Limited preview - 2001 |
The Baltic Transformed: Complexity Theory and European Security Walter C. Clemens, Jr. Limited preview - 2001 |
Common terms and phrases
actors August Baltic countries Baltic independence Baltic region Baltic republics Baltic Sea Balts became Belarus border capita chapter citizens coalition Communist complexity theory cooperation Council defense democracy democratic Duma East Eastern Europe economic elections empire energy Estonia Estonia and Latvia ethnic European security Finland fitness forces foreign former Soviet German global Gorbachev Hansas Hanseatic Human Development Report human rights integration interdependence International joined Kaliningrad Kremlin Landsbergis language late Latvia leaders liberal Lithua Lithuania military million Moscow mutual gain Narva NATO neighbors neutral NGOs noncitizens nuclear official organized OSCE Oxford University Press parliament Party peace percent Poland population ports post-Soviet president prime minister Pskov punctuated equilibrium Putin Riga Riigikogu Russian speakers Seimas self-organization Singapore social society Soviet Union Sweden Tallinn Tartu threats three Baltic republics trade Transition Treaty troops Ukraine United Nations USSR Vilnius West Western World Bank Yeltsin York
References to this book
America: Sovereign Defender Or Cowboy Nation? Vladimir Shlapentokh,Joshua Woods,Eric Shiraev No preview available - 2005 |