Political culture

Más información sobre el libro

Reconciling the diversity of political cultures, values, and national identities with the European integration project poses a significant challenge for contemporary Europe, particularly in the Baltic Sea region, characterized by its rich mosaic of peoples and identities. The ongoing European integration process has undeniably impacted the post-Communist societies along the Eastern rim of the Baltic Sea. The negotiations between the European Union and Eastern European candidate countries involved a substantial transfer of organizational models and administrative practices aimed at safeguarding human rights and fostering democracy. However, European integration is just one of the hurdles these nations face, as they also navigate state- and nation-building alongside democratic consolidation. Meanwhile, the countries on the Western rim of the Baltic Sea contend with the pressures of globalization and integration. The former Soviet republics of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania confront the challenge of independent state- and nation-building after decades of Soviet control, which theoretically renders their democracies particularly vulnerable. Nevertheless, these Baltic nations have successfully met this challenge, showcasing a distinct form of democracy that, while different from that of the Nordic countries or neighboring Central Europe, reflects variations on a common theme.