Abstract
This is a book report on Jill Lisk's "The Struggle for Supremacy in the Baltic: 1600-1725".

Tags:baltic, sweden, russia

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. "

Tags:competences, competition, constitutionalism, ec, enlargement, establishment, freedoms, institutions, law, trade

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 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."

Tags:economics, former, soviet, union, baltic, states, globalization, economy

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)"

Tags:baltic, crusade, rus, christianize, tribe

Abstract
This paper explains the impact of the Mongol invasion of early 13th centre, end of Kievan Rus, and gradual reinforcement of a separate Ukrainian identity vis-a-vis Russia, Belorus, Baltic states, Poland. It discusses the nature of the Tatar administration and tribute system and the meaning of the Invasion in popular Ukrainian memory.

From the Paper
"The Mongol Invasion and Popular Memory in Ukraine. Introduction For four centuries, Ukraine suffered under Mongol rule. In the first half of the 13th century, Kievan Rus succumbed to an oppressive invader that was culturally dissimilar in an occupation that could never be fully assimilated. In the mid-17th century, the Ukrainian Cossack leader, Hetman Bohdan Khmelnitsky, threw off Mongol rule, towards a different Ukrainian future. Indeed, a substantial portion of this paper refers to the Cossacks' role in the entire region affected by Tatar influence, and their central role in the production of a distinct Ukrainian identity. "

Tags:ukraine, goldenhorde, tatars/cossacks

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. "

Tags:lithuania, analysis, business

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.

Tags:country, analysis, lithuania

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.""

Tags:poland, ukraine, russia, casaulties, mud

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."

Tags:religion, communist, party, culture, russia