This paper discusses what it will mean for people living in the Baltic States to become a part of EU population, including the advantages and disadvantages.
23,000 words (approx. 92 pages), 27 sources, 2000, $ 249.95
Abstract Discusses what it will mean for people living in the Baltic States to become a part of EU population. After the accession some people will benefit, some will be put in a disadvantageous position, national parliaments will lose considerably important powers in the field of migration and eastern external borders will become a hot spot of the country where now EU rules will be applied.
From the Paper "Furthermore, Maastricht and Amsterdam treaties are compared and the changes that have been made examined. After immigration and asylum matters, external border controls, measures to combat financial fraud against the EU and customs cooperation have been moved out of the Third Pillar of the EU and the intergovernmental cooperation and transferred to the Community level, the national parliaments gave up some of their powers. That basically means that after the accession of the Baltic States to the EU, they will have to accept that some of their parliaments? competence will be transferred to the EU level. Still, not all the powers in the field of migration will be taken from national competence and so in my thesis it is also noted what issues will be left exclusively for states. "
Abstract This well researched paper details Estonia's economy as well as its program of privatization for more than 400 major enterprises which leads the Baltics in the number of wide-scale privatizations. Although Estonia is still a young and immature economy, its prospects could turn out to be far more superior than expected. The writer also discusses how Estonia's small-scale privatization and later globalization of the economy began as a part of the larger reform movement in the era of Soviet perestroika.
From the Paper "Though it is a young, immature market economy, Estonia is still just that - a market economy. Its prospects could further turn out to be superior than is conventionally expected. Perhaps an analogy - for all of the differences - of Japan's economic miracle is relevant. Indeed, the basis is arguably in the process of being laid for an economic miracle - a chudo. The region possesses an emerging educated population with considerable skills. For the first time in over seven decades, its scientific and technical capabilities are linked to the marketplace - something heretofore impossible. A post-communist generation has emerged, eager to partake in the building of a modern industrial country."
Abstract This paper analyzes 12th and 13th century Russian history, focusing on the period of the Teutonic Knights and the Baltic Crusade. It explains that the area of the Rus had been Christianized in large part before the knights arrived; the Baltic region had not been Christianized very much at all, however. The Baltic tribes had been plundered by their own neighbors; in turn, the Baltic tribes plundered shipping and trading from the rest of established Europe.
From the Paper "When we think of Russia today, especially post-Communism, we think of a vast territory stretching from somewhere vaguely European across frozen wastelands of Siberia to the Bering Straits and a stone's throw from Alaska. But Russia, as conceived in earlier times, was more often thought of as a collection of small states"modern Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and even Poland"and running eastward toward Moscow, but not much farther. ?The term, the Baltic Crusade, is today understood to refer first of all to the crusading program in medieval Livonia (modern Latvia and Estonia) and secondarily to those in Finland, Prussia and Lithuania. The campaigns undertaken by a variety of nationalities (primarily German, but also Swedish, Danish, Polish, English and French) extended over three centuries,? wrote William Urban in ?Victims of the Baltic Crusade. ? (1998)"
Abstract Jaan Kross, in his novel, "Professor Martens' Departure", clearly reflects his own experience living in a Soviet state. It discusses how the period he describes is much earlier, primarily before the creation of the Soviet system, yet reflective of aspects of the Russian character and the characters of other ethnic and foreign groups interacting in the period from the 18th to the beginning of the 20th centuries. The writer shows how Kross comments on aspects of Estonian life under Russian rule and on influences from the Baltics, Germany, and Russia, usually not by doing so directly, but by showing the effect these influences have on Professor Martens and those with whom he has contact. It then looks at the aura of the time developed through the accumulation of images and reactions from throughout the novel.
From the Paper "Professor Martens is in a unique position to observe and be part of the life of Estonia, for he has a government position which places him at the heart of the events of his time. In terms of earlier history, he lives it, or relives it, in his memory because he believes himself to be the reincarnation of Georg Friedrich von Martens, who lived a century before and who was a German diplomat. He himself has been part of the administration of Czar Nicholas and helps support that government. He is well-known to and popular with foreign diplomats and leaders, which angers many Russian and Estonian leaders who want to be in the limelight. From his own point of view, he has adversaries but not enemies (48), though many of these adversaries act as enemies just the same. His fame is cited in many publications (49, 120), though he usually notes that what is written about him omits as much as it includes and does not state his real influence on the proceedings or the major role he plays but is not credited with by others, such as Stolypin, who would clearly prefer to handle all matters himself but who needs Martens to do his part."
From the Paper " In January of 1991, the Baltic nation of Latvia was invaded by elite troops of the Soviet Union. The invasion of Latvia came one week after a similar raid had taken place in the bordering nation of Lithuania. Between March and May of 1990, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as the third Baltic nation of Estonia, had all declared independence from the domination of the Soviet Union. It is in response to these declarations that the Soviet military has been brought into play in the Baltic region. The invasion of the Soviet Union on the Baltic states has raised a number of important questions regarding the Cold War. The Cold War began shortly after the end of the Second World War, when the Soviet leader Joseph Stalin began conquering the weakened nations of Eastern Europe. Because of these conquests, the United States and the other nations of the Western world perceived a need for..."
Abstract This paper discusses the life of Peter the Great especially his role in building the Russian navy. The author starts by describing the strength of the Swedish navy and how Peter I conquered them. The author believes that the building of the Russian military, especially the navy, was testament to the will of this one man, Peter I, who with his genius, foresight, courage and charisma dragged the Russian world into the Age of Enlightenment.
From the Paper "In a concentrated effort no less fantastic than the U.S. response to Pearl Harbor in World War II, the Russians under Peter's dynamic leadership created a navy in every sense of the word. Not only did they build a fierce contingent of warships and galleys over the next several years; but also they developed the strategy and the strategists that would make best use of the new Russian naval instrument. By the 1720's, the Russians, not the Swedes, would have control of the Baltic. They would keep control of it for the better part of the next two centuries."
Abstract This paper examines the Republic of Belarus or Respublika Belarus, which is located in East Central Europe. It is bounded by Russia to the east, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west and the Baltic republics of Latvia and Lithuania to the northwest.
Outline
The Land
The People
Culture
Economy
Government and History
Problems
Hints and Lesson
From the Paper "Before 1990, the Communist Party of and in Belarus monopolized power with the participation of a coalition of pro-reform groups in elections to the Supreme Soviet. The legislature then was hardly changed, with most of the seats won by Communist Party members. The Party was banned after an attempted take-over of the Soviet government in August 199, but the ban was lifted in February 1993, which restored and reconstituted in the Party of Communists of Belarus (PCB). Thereon, the Communists won a plurality seat in the 1995 election to the Supreme Soviet. There too were the Agrarian Party, the United Civic Party and the main opposition group since 1988, the Belarusian Popular front or BPF. These were only a few of the more than 20 active political parties in Belarus in 1996."
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes Ekstein's part historical account, part personal memoir account of the Balkans and its troubled past. The paper describes how Ekstein is able to use his own personal experiences and his scholarly knowledge of the region to present an informative, insightful text. The paper also outlines the major periods in history that Ekstein covers in his book.
From the Paper "The Balkans emerged in the last decade as a major hot spot in the world, and not for the first time. The Balkans were also the source of the tensions leading directly to World War I, and the only reason the region remained relatively stable after World War II was because of the force of the Communist leadership and the threat from the rest of the communist world if the region did not remain peaceful. With the breakup of the Soviet bloc after 1989, the tensions in the Balkans increased and produced bloody warfare between the different ethnic groups in the region, bloodshed which continues to this day. Modris Eksteins? account of the region during and after World War II in his book Walking Since Daybreak offers much about the region and much about the people, showing many of the tensions affecting this area and offering information that helps understand the problems facing the world because of those tensions."
This paper discusses that the eastern front of World War II was the bloodiest, costliest and most morally deprived fighting seen in the twentieth century.
Abstract This paper explains that the eastern front of the Second World War is often overlooked by Western historians; however, the fierce battles and enormous amount of blood spilled between Russia and Germany during this time is almost unfathomable by modern standards of warfare. The author points out that some of the most brutal fighting of World War II took place in the modern-day Ukraine, which was targeted by Hitler because of its strong industrial and agricultural base. Additionally, he sought to misdirect Soviet forces from the Baltic States to the Ukraine further in the south. The paper relates that the physical geography of the eastern front made holding strategic locations difficult; the sprawling, open nature of the land generated a situation in which deception and surprise were minimal and thus, casualties were considerable.
From the Paper "While the southern and central portions of the nation are densely populated and have varied geographies, northern Poland is more sparsely populated and almost uniform in its physical characteristics. The climate is generally cool and similar to that in central North America. The average temperature in the summer is between 60 F and 70 F, while the winter average is about 30 F. It has the capacity to reach very cold temperatures, and can be quite unaccommodating to massive military forces. Unfortunately, this climate was not enough to stop Russian and German armies from ravaging Poland's countryside. "Geographically, Poland stood as a tasty morsel between the jaws of Germany and Russia. An agricultural nation with no natural barriers or frontiers, Poland could not, like Switzerland, look to the mountains, money, or a strong industry for protection.""
Abstract This paper explains that the key to solving Russia's economic crisis lies in promoting the country's raw materials industries and in allowing Western investment resources to target these industries. The paper also points out that hard line Communists still in power and the great degree of corruption within the Russian government are the primary obstacles to Russia's economic success. The paper describes the ruinous condition of Russia's economy and what measures must be undertaken in order to pull the country out of the dark ages of Communism and into a modern western style free market economy.
From the Paper "About ten years ago, there were no market features in the Russian economy at all. There was no capital market, money market, forex, etc. Yelstin has changed the situation drastically. Today, Russia has a private economy, which is comparable with the state economy. There is still a large portion of industries, such as the raw materials industries and of course transportation, which are state controlled monopolies. However, the main problem in Russia is to avoid a turn back, to Socialism with total government control of the economy."
This well-researched and informative paper examines the political and socio-economic changes that have taken place in Russia since the late-1980s which have proven conducive to criminal development.
Abstract This in-depth paper explores the years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union when the overall security and political situation throughout the region had gradually transformed from a communist regime to one of extreme corruption. This paper discusses the present Russian view of criminal issues while paying close attention to the Russian mafia phenomenon which is a direct outgrowth of the unconventional economy and related corruption. This paper also contains detailed facts and information pertaining to Russia's political history and economy both before and after the fall of the Soviet Union.
Outline
Introduction
Historical Change in the Definition of "Crime and Mafia"
Economy, Crime and Security in the Post-Soviet Era
Drug-Related Crimes
Acts of Violence
Uncontrolled Migration
Smuggling and Other Crimes
Russian Security Cooperation
Opposition Toward Change
Reducing Anarchy
Government Officials
Bibliography
From the Paper "In the years since the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of the three Baltic republics, the overall political and security situation throughout the Baltic Sea region has become gradually transformed. The delicate East-West balance in Northeastern Europe that was maintained by just a few actors during the cold war era has given way to a security environment that is fluid and conditions which are manipulated by a multiple of diverse new actors. In addition, there has been a dramatic shift in the characterization of security threats and priorities in the region."
Abstract This paper analyzes the language of Ingrian, one of the languages of Russia. The paper explains that only 302 people speak Ingrian and that UNESCO classifies it as a seriously endangered language. The author also discusses syntax and morphology.
From the Paper "Ingrian one of the languages of Russia is an endangered language. When a language is classified as endangered it means that the language is in danger of extinction. Languages become extinct for a variety of reasons ..."
Abstract Assessing risks and opportunities in any foreign investment scenario is almost assuredly a perilous venture for a business. The delicate nature of weighing the costs and benefits of any decision is difficult enough when done in an economic climate very similar to the one in which one is already operating. The paper shows that such is the case for Western businesses considering investment in Lithuania in the Baltic region of Eastern Europe. The paper shows that there are great opportunities for business investment development and operation in Lithuania mostly centering around low barriers to entry economic incentives and high GDP growth rates over the past decade.
Abstract This paper is a final analysis and recommendation following a proposal to engage in foreign direct investment in Lithuania. Despite the potential benefits of such a move, the report ultimately concludes that it would be unwise to invest in Lithuania at this time. It looks at how rampant political instability combined with a rising current account deficit undermines investor confidence in the Baltic nation.
From the Paper "Proposed is the possible expansion of business operations into Lithuania via foreign direct investment. The possibility of investing in Lithuania first came up when some members of the company recognized that, as a nation, Lithuania was offering incredible intriguing incentives for business investment. The opportunity was obvious. In addition to incentives for investment, Lithuania also boasts low barriers to entry, and generally high GDP growth rates over the past decade. Naturally, the small Baltic nation seemed an obvious choice for investment. However, further investigation revealed that there were significant, if less apparent, problems for the investor in Lithuania. Politically, the nation is quite unstable. The government has changed hands several times in the last few years, generally under scandalous terms. Recently, some legislative friction has emerged regarding Lithuania's proposed adoption of the Euro. "
