Politics of Uncertainty: The United States, the Baltic Question, and the Collapse of the Soviet Union

In 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet Republic to declare its independence, leading to a transition period in Estonia and Latvia. The Soviet Union condemned the declarations and imposed an economic blockade. The United States tried to de-escalate the crisis by pressuring all sides to engage in dialogue. Politics of Uncertainty investigates the interplay between international and domestic dynamics in the Soviet disintegration process, focusing on the triangular relations between Washington, Moscow, and Baltic independence movements. The book recovers the voices of local actors in Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius and examines the Baltic problem's international visibility and its risk to the Soviet and American leaders. The United States supported Baltic independence without jeopardizing relations with the Kremlin, while Mikhail Gorbachev was frustrated by the secessionist tendencies. George Bush, François Mitterrand, and Helmut Kohl were exasperated by the events at the margins of the Soviet empire. Una Bergmane underscores how the Soviet collapse was driven by uncertainty, domestic pressures, and last-minute decisions, and warns about the tenuous geopolitical positions of the three states that joined NATO and the European Union after breaking out of the Soviet empire.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 27 April 2023
Publisher: Oxford University Press Inc

In March 1990, Lithuania made history by becoming the first Soviet Republic to declare its independence. This significant event set the stage for a wave of change across the Baltic region, as Estonia and Latvia soon followed suit, announcing the beginning of a transition period towards full sovereignty. However, the Soviet Union, which viewed these declarations as illegal, reacted harshly, imposing an economic blockade against Lithuania. Tensions were high, and the United States, fearing the potential for violence, took steps to de-escalate the crisis. The book Politics of Uncertainty delves into the intricate interplay between international and domestic dynamics during the Soviet disintegration process. Through extensive multilingual archival research, it sheds light on the voices of local actors in Riga, Tallinn, and Vilnius, exploring the complex triangular relations between Washington, Moscow, and the Baltic independence movements. Occupied and annexed by the USSR in 1940, Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania were among the first Soviet republics to embrace the reforms of Perestroika. Initially perceived as a minor issue, the Baltic problem gradually gained international attention, and by 1990, it posed a risk to the broader transformation of the Soviet state and the European order. The United States, which had never recognized the annexation of the Baltic states, faced a challenging balancing act. On the one hand, it supported Baltic independence, recognizing the aspirations of these nations for self-determination. On the other hand, it sought to maintain good relations with the Kremlin, which was still a significant power player in the region. Meanwhile, Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union, faced a different dilemma. While he recognized the importance of the Baltic region as an integral part of the USSR, he was frustrated by the secessionist tendencies of these nations, which he saw as detracting from the monumental opportunity for change that the Perestroika project offered to his country and the world. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of the events leading up to the Soviet collapse, including the Baltic declarations, the economic blockade, and the efforts of the United States to de-escalate the crisis. It also explores the complex dynamics between the Soviet Union, the United States, and the Baltic independence movements, shedding light on the political, economic, and social factors that shaped the region's history during this pivotal period. Overall, Politics of Uncertainty is a valuable contribution to the study of Soviet history and international relations, offering a fresh perspective on a pivotal period of profound change and transformation.

Weight: 508g
Dimension: 162 x 243 x 26 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780197578346