The book explores Estonia's historical journey from prehistory to modern times, highlighting significant events that reshaped the nation, particularly during the upheaval of the former Soviet Union. It delves into the complex dynamics of ethnic tensions between Estonians and Russian settlers, offering insights into the cultural and political challenges faced by the Baltic state throughout its evolution.
Focusing on the Finno-Ugric language speakers in post-Soviet Russia, the book explores their unique cultural identity shaped by language and animist religious practices. It highlights how these groups have maintained distinctiveness amidst Turkic and Russian influences. With limited prior English resources due to Soviet censorship, this comprehensive survey offers valuable insights into their history, traditions, and the significance of their autonomous regions.
Describes and analyzes how the Baltic nations survived 50 years of social disruption, language discrimination and Russian colonialism, and the effect of the Baltic states' stubborn invincibility on the Soviet Union. The history of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania are integrated and compared.
This comprehensive study of electoral systems describes the electoral rules of different nations, reviews the current state of knowledge about their effects, and offers guidelines for designing new systems. Their book thus constitutes a quantitative key to democratic systems in a wider sense.