Baltic Sea

Article 5 for the Next Decade of NATO

Collective defense is at the heart of European security. Enshrined within Article 5 of its founding treaty, NATO allies see “an armed attack against one or more of them in Europe or North America shall be considered an attack...

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Why Did Latvia Ban Dozhd? Imperial Legacies and National Debates

On Dec. 1, Aleksey Korostelyov, the host of Russian opposition TV channel Dozhd (TV Rain) broadcasting from the Latvian capital Riga invited his viewers to share testimonies about Russia’s mobilization process and problems in the Russian army. At the...

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The Baltics Predicted the Suspension of the Ukraine Grain Deal — and Contributed to its Resumption

The Ukraine grain deal, formally known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, is a joint agreement by Russia, Ukraine, and Türkiye that promises a safe Black Sea corridor for commercial ships to export grains from Ukraine under the supervision...

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The Art of the Possible: Minimizing Risks as a New European Order Takes Shape

  Note: Research for this analysis was completed on October 13, 2022. The text does not reflect events since that date. Executive Summary Russia’s war on Ukraine is poised to bring into being a new European security order. Although...

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The Short, (Un)happy Life of Development/For! – What It Can Teach Liberalism Europe-wide

Among the numerous casualties of the 2022 Latvian elections was the liberal upstart Development/For! (Attīstībai/Par!) electoral alliance. It entered the Saeima in 2018 promising an ambitious slate of social reforms. In the October 2022 parliamentary elections, Development/For! lost all...

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New Unity’s New Partners: Coalition Building After Latvia’s 2022 Elections

On Oct. 1, Latvia elected its 14th parliament since 1922. The winner of the elections is the center-right New Unity (Jaunā Vienotība), the party of the current Prime Minister Krišjānis Kariņš and current Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkēvičs. This means...

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Latvian Elections: Visions of a Fractured Saeima

Explore our guide to Latvian Parliamentary Party Platforms The 19 parties campaigning in the October 1 Latvian Saeima (parliament) elections are fated to experience interesting times. The vote occurs amidst lingering COVID-19 pandemic worries and Russia’s ongoing war in...

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Latvian Parliamentary Elections: Party Platform Guide

Latvia will hold parliamentary elections on October 1 to elect the members of 14th Saeima. Citizens are represented by a 100-member unicameral parliament to which members are elected by proportional representation for four-year terms. To enter the Saeima, parties...

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Good and Bad Neighbors: Perceptions in Latvian Society

Enmity and amity between countries is primarily defined by state institutions. Perceptions of societies in this regard are more obscure. They are influenced by a range of factors and actors. State institutions have influence on public opinion and vice...

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Watching the War on Russian Television

Those watching Russian television to follow the war in Ukraine live in an alternative reality. Commentators on state-owned Russian television news stations have spread the falsehood that Ukraine is staging fake attacks on their own cities to make it look...

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