Unabhangigkeit

In: Osteuropa, Band 52, Heft 9-10, S. 1209-1216

Abstract

Reflections are shared on the relationship between a country's independence, democracy, & nationalism, with special reference to Lithuania, first among the Baltic states to declare its independence through a parliamentary resolution issued 11 Mar 1990, known today as the Act on the Reestablishment of the State of Lithuania. The importance of culture & language to ethnic identity & the respect of human rights to a state's legitimacy is stressed. It is observed that unlike other former Soviet republics, Lithuania dealt successfully with the dangers of nationalism & chauvinism, which are always the largest obstacles to successful democracy building. Z. Dubiel