Since the end of the Cold War there has been an increased interest in the Baltics. The Baltic States brings together three titles, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, to provide a comprehensive and analytical guide integrating history, political science, economic development and contemporary events into one account. Since gaining their independence, each country has developed at its own pace with its own agenda and facing its own obstacles. The authors examine the tensions accompanying a post-communist return to Europe after the long years of separation and how each country has responded to the demands of becoming a modern European state. Estonia was the first of the former Soviet republics to enter membership negotiations with the European Union in 1988 and is a potential candidate for the next round of EU expansion in 2004. Lithuania and Latvia have also expressed their desire for future membership of NATO and the EU.

With EU and NATO membership for the Baltic States now a reality, this volume examines the relationship of the three countries, their constituent peoples and their surrounding region to the wider Europe, both historically and in the period since 1991. In particular, the contributors seek to locate the Baltic area within the manifold debates surrounding the concepts of "new" and "old" Europe, including those occasioned by the current conflict in Iraq. Covering issues of identity, sovereignty, minority rights, security and relations with Russia the work assesses the likely contribution of this region to an enlarged Euro-Atlantic community. It will appeal to specialists and students in the fields of area studies, history, politics and international relations.

The International Law Commission, when drafting articles on nationality of persons in situations of State succession, omitted cases of unlawful territorial changes. These do not result in State succession; they may be dealt with under the rubric of State continuity. The Baltic – Russian cases show the particularly complex nature of these situations, both as concerns agreement on continuity and decisions on nationality. The author examines in detail the Citizenship Laws of the Baltic States and Russia, as well as relevant constitutional and international statements about the international legal status of the States and responses of the international community thereto. The main question addressed in the book is about solutions which States have to adopt concerning nationality of individuals in situations of State continuity, especially where States re-emerge after long years of occupation. Although the book is specific in its origin, it is of general importance because it draws conclusions concerning developments in law and practice which are relevant for a better understanding and regulation of nationality and statehood in international law.

The product of more than twenty years of research, first-person observations, discussions, and policy analyses, Nation-Building in the Baltic States: Transforming Governance, Social Welfare, and Security in Northern Europe explores the characteristics of the Baltic states as positioned in the northeast corridor in terms of military strife and polity development such as democratization. It details governments' efforts to abet transparency and trust by way of developing new public and private institutions for advancements like innovation and private wealth creation. The book examines the effects of various factors of economic and social adjustments in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania. The authors explore the opportunities and problems that have shaped the region’s progress in the process of rebuilding democratic institutions and nation states after regaining their independence. They then describe the region’s progress in laying the critical internal foundation necessary for maintaining their political independence. The book also reviews the progress made in strengthening what the authors believe are key social functions of government in what the EU describes as its social market system: the provision of social welfare services that meets the needs of all. The book concludes with a realistic picture of future hurdles for this region, looking at lingering challenges and regional instabilities, policy mistakes not to be made again, and recommendations for national planning and resource management. Going beyond a massive, single explanation of recent Baltic developments, the book provides a broad picture of development of social and political trends and insights with separate evaluations of issues in the process of national transformation. It provides a foundation examining the forces that will shape the future of the Baltic states.