Latvian National Identity

Latvia Emerges: National Identity Shaped by Past and The Other

Introduction to Latvia

After regaining independence from the Soviet Union, Latvia has worked hard to remind both itself and foreign audiences who it really is. With constant political and social changes, Latvian nation identity is a project rather than set in stone. After joining the EU, the trajectory of Latvia seems apparent, aiming for a European alignment through international platforms and political compatibility, while maintaining its unique culture through language and music. Through Latvia’s complicated past, a rough idea of national identity has been shaped by cultural survival, language, and European affiliation, carefully creating a separation between itself and Russia.

National Identity: In the Works

Throughout history tribes, empires, states, and countries have shaped identity, defining who we are as people. In this way, the idea of national identity has been around for a long time, but what national identity really is hasn’t been clearly defined. Literally, national identity is political, meaning country territories and citizenship define identity. However, this definition can’t explain the loyalty of citizens and sense of alignment with their country. Researchers have debated over the concept of national identity, some claiming “nations are the nearly universal ‘imagined communities’ that constitute the modern world.” (Wilson, 1985), while others disagree saying this idea will “continue to underrate nationalism as an irrational ‘false consciousness’” (Wilson, 1985). Even if national identity is only ‘imagined’, it still holds great influence on much of the world. The foundation of national identity is built in a country’s history and culture, including language, music, religion, or practices, causing the concept to flex and grow over time. In the case of Latvia, its culture has become a way of survival under constant external rule, making endurance a key part of national identity. 

Latvian Language and History

Similar to many countries, the Latvian language is a key to the country’s national identity. What separates Latvia from other European countries, is the use of language to keep culture alive. After being taken over by the Soviet Union, Latvia began to see intense Russification, and as more ethnic Russians moved into the country, the dominant language slowly began to shift. In the capital city Riga, “Most political, educational, and cultural events were held in Russian.” (Loader, 2017) and communication issues would arise in critical places such as hospitals when newly certified doctors didn’t speak Latvian (Loader, 2017). Even when Latvian national communist leader Eduards Berklavs voiced complaints about lack of effort on the behalf of Russia to learn the Latvian language, no changes were seen. In fact, “Soviet authorities imposed alterations to Latvian orthography to make it more similar to Russian.” (Loader 2017). In response to this language crisis, Latvia installed a law ordering all organizations to address the problem and ensure fluency in both Latvian and Russian. Though the language law was not entirely successful, it did underline Latvia’s resistance to Russification and the importance of language to the country.

Song and Folklore

Like language, music is an important aspect of Latvia’s culture and national identity. Every five years since 1873, Latvia has held its song and dance festival. During this event, thousands of people flock to the capital city of Riga to enjoy and celebrate folk music. Each participant dresses in traditional folk costumes with the women wearing floral wreaths, and fifteen thousand people sing dziesmas (traditional song). Latvia continued to hold this event through the period of Soviet occupation, during which many traditional folksongs were banned. This eventually led to the singing revolution, which was experienced through all three Baltic states (World Song, 2013). These folksongs became a way of cultural survival for Latvia, allowing the people to remember their roots. In the book The Power of Song, author Guntis Smidchens takes a closer look at the song festival and its lyrics, saying 

“It is not only the choirs in the procession who are singing. The Latvian spectators sing, too. Songs flow in a constant, never-ending stream.

. . . Šeit ir Latvija, šeit ir Gaujmala . . .

 . . . This is Latvia, these are Gauja’s shores . . .

 . . . Latviet’s esmu, latviet’s būšu, latviet’s mūžam palikšu . . .

 . . . I am a Latvian, I’ll be a Latvian, forever I’ll remain Latvian . . .”

(Smidchens, 2014, 57)

This look into the lyrics of Latvian folksong shows the role music played in protecting the country’s culture after it lost its independence, and how it helped revive the nation afterwards.

Latvia in Europe

In modern day Latvia, being European doesn’t only mean a geographical location, but also an important aspect of Latvia’s national identity. Latvia has taken its independence from Russia as a symbolic return to Europe, rather than the creation of a new European country. From there, joining the EU in 2004 solidified the country’s identity and alignment towards Europe, functioning beyond an economic or political movement (Kuus, 2004). Latvia also displays its Europeanness in international cultural events that reach foreign audiences. For example, Riga’s international film festival shows European movies and Latvian culture and is broadcasted across the EU network. This helps paint the image of Riga as a European capital rather than a Russian or Soviet one. Latvia’s participation in the Eurovision Song Contest allows the country to represent its culture through modern styles of music and dance, separating itself from Russia on a widely viewed platform. Latvia’s alignment to Eastern Europe goes beyond politics, building a platform for national identity surrounding modernity and democracy.

The “Others”

An important part of the formation of national identity is the idea of “others”, or the desire to create a distinction between another group. Since Latvia’s re-establishment as a country, it has found a clear “other” in Russia. Latvia’s need to separate itself from its former occupier has heavily shaped its historical framing and political orientation. Latvia’s Othering stems from its extensive past with foreign control and need to establish its independence. Politically, Latvia has purposely created a contrast with Russia, opting for a democratic, liberal government rather than a dominant authoritarian one. In this way, Latvia joining the EU and NATO can be seen as an intentional choice to emphasize separation from Russia. The nations also choose to frame their mingled history differently, with the Latvian narration being one of occupation and dominance and the Russian narrative being one of liberation. Latvia’s Russian speaking minority also provides and internal other. Although fully integrated into Latvia, the population of Russian speakers causes tension in the country, inadvertently being a reminder of past domination.

Conclusion

As a relatively new country, we can expect to continue to see Latvian national identity morph and grow. While some aspects may remain consistent, such as language and folklore, much of Latvia’s national identity is based around others. Currently, Latvia is both using comparison with Russia and alignment with Eastern Europe to present itself. Latvia’s current positioning makes it an appealing case, proving that culture and identity can be a survival mechanism, but also exposing that it is difficult to rebrand a country with only internal identity. In the future it will be interesting to see how Latvia’s Baltic nature and Nordic states will influence national identity as well as Eastern Europe.

References:

Kuus, M. (2004). Europe's eastern expansion and the reinscription of otherness in east-central europe. Progress in Human Geography, 28(4), 472-489. doi: https://doi.org/10.1191/0309132504ph498oa

Loader, M. (2017). Restricting russians: Language and immigration laws in soviet latvia, 1956–1959. Nationalities Papers, 45(6), 1082-1099. doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/00905992.2017.1335298

Maksimovtsova, K. (2019). Language conflicts in contemporary estonia, latvia, and ukraine : A comparative exploration of discourses in post-soviet russian-language digital media. Ibidem Verlag.

Smidchens, G. (2014). The power of song : Nonviolent national culture in the baltic singing revolution. University of Washington Press.

Wilson, G. M. (1985). [Review of Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, by B. Anderson]. The American Historical Review, 90(4), 903–904. https://doi.org/10.2307/1858850

World song. (2013). Choir & Organ, 21(5), 75–78.