Etatist Elements in Small Nation Nationalisms: The Case of Latvian Nationalism

In: Canadian review of studies in nationalism: Revue canadienne des études sur le nationalisme, Band 32, Heft 1-2, S. 77-91

Abstract

This article explores the history of etatism in Latvian nationalism, in which intellectuals played a dominant role in defining strong statehood as a priority over nationalism. After 1934, in particular, during the regime of Karlis Ulmanis, that Latvian nationalism came to the conclusion that a system which gave individuals power was not sufficient to forge a strong national character. Rather, it was through the establishment of state institutions & the construction of a horizontal power structure that Latvia could achieve statehood on an abstract level, whereby ideals did not reflect the will of individuals alone, but more importantly, the growth of an interventionist & centralized state. It is argued here that this political doctrine, espousing bureaucracy with unlimited power, became the ultimate solution to national identity questions not only in Latvia, but also through all of Central & Eastern Europe. References. C. Brunski