Political Cleavages in Latvia

Latvia had a brief experience with democracy and
party pluralism between 1920 and 1934, when a
national authoritarian regime took over. After
restoration of Latvia s independence from the Soviet
Union in 1991, a large number of political groups
and parties formed. Do they reflect cleavages and
contrasts that structured political oppositions in
Latvia in the 1920s and 1930s?
Stein Rokkan and Seymour Martin Lipset (1967) found
that party systems of Western democracies reflected
fundamental cleavages that emerged in the course of
history. The most significant change in the Latvian
party system of today is the apparent absence of the
class conflict. The salient cleavage since 1990 has
a strong nationality component, its roots
stretching far down in history.
This book contains a description and analysis of the
Latvian party systems, and identifies tentatively
the most important historical conflicts and
cleavages involved in the structuring of
oppositions.
This work may be useful to everyone interested in
politics, history and Society of Latvia and the
Baltic countries, as well as in party systems and
democratic political development.

Autorentext
Brita Skuland, cand. polit.: Studied Political Science at University of Oslo and University of Leiden. Communications Adviser at the Research Council of Norway.

Klappentext
Latvia had a brief experience with democracy and party pluralism between 1920 and 1934, when a national authoritarian regime took over. After restoration of Latvia's independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, a large number of political groups and parties formed. Do they reflect cleavages and contrasts that structured political oppositions in Latvia in the 1920s and 1930s? Stein Rokkan and Seymour Martin Lipset (1967) found that party systems of Western democracies reflected fundamental cleavages that emerged in the course of history. The most significant change in the Latvian party system of today is the apparent absence of the class conflict. The salient cleavage since 1990 has a strong 'nationality' component, its roots stretching far down in history. This book contains a description and analysis of the Latvian party systems, and identifies tentatively the most important historical conflicts and cleavages involved in the structuring of oppositions. This work may be useful to everyone interested in politics, history and Society of Latvia and the Baltic countries, as well as in party systems and democratic political development.