RUDN Journal of Political ScienceRUDN Journal of Political ScienceВестник Российского университета дружбы народов. Серия: Политология2313-14382313-1446Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia named after Patrice Lumumba (RUDN University)2494110.22363/2313-1438-2020-22-4-603-616RELIGION, NATION, IDENTITY: POLITICAL MEANINGS IN THE MODERN WORLDРЕЛИГИЯ, НАЦИЯ, ИДЕНТИЧНОСТЬ: ПОЛИТИЧЕСКОЕ ЗВУЧАНИЕ В СОВРЕМЕННОМ МИРЕResearch ArticleThe Role of the Elites in Choosing the Foreign Policy Priorities of the Baltic StatesРоль элит в выборе внешнеполитических приоритетов стран ПрибалтикиSmirnovVadim A.СмирновВадим Анатольевич

PhD in Political Sciences, Doctorate Candidate of the Department of Social and Political Studies

кандидат политических наук, докторант отдела социальных и политических исследований

vsmirnov@kantiana.ruThe Institute of Europe RASИнститут Европы РАН15122020224RELIGION IN POLITICS AND POLITICS IN RELIGIONРЕЛИГИЯ В ПОЛИТИКЕ И ПОЛИТИКА В РЕЛИГИИ60361615112020Copyright ©; 2020, Smirnov V.A.Copyright ©; 2020, Смирнов В.А.2020Smirnov V.A.Смирнов В.А.http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0https://journals.rudn.ru/political-science/article/view/24941

The author analyzed the role of the elites of the Baltic countries in the choice of foreign policy priorities in the period after the declaration of independence. The process of determining the course towards the Euro-Atlantic is inscribed in the sub-regional context, taking into account the current Russian-Baltic political interaction. The study of power groups was carried out on the basis of an examination of large-scale socio-political transformations along with an analysis of individual practices. A comprehensive study of the transformation of the political elites of Baltic states as small countries, involves consideration of both the domestic and foreign policy aspects. The thesis is put forward that, despite a number of differences in the Baltic states, since the 1990s there were similar processes of transformation of political elites. The elite formation was due to the principle of state continuity as continuity with the pre-war regimes of Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia and as a break with the Soviet period, including the EuroAtlantic course as the key priority of the foreign policy. The consolidation of deep divisions in the societies of the Baltic states - ethnic, linguistic, political - was the result of the elite struggle for power in the 1990s. After the implementation of the idea of «Back to the West» the elites of the Baltic states replaced it with a «Russian threat», which made it possible to postpone overcoming internal divisions fraught with weakening of their power.

Автор проанализировал роль элит стран Прибалтики в выборе внешнеполитических приоритетов в период после провозглашения независимости. Процесс определения курса на Евроатлантику вписан в субрегиональный контекст с учетом актуального российско-прибалтийского политического взаимодействия. Изучение хода и результатов перемен властных групп проведено на основе рассмотрения масштабных социально-политических трансформаций наряду с анализом индивидуальных практик. Комплексное изучение трансформации политических элит малых стран, к которым относятся страны Прибалтики, предполагает рассмотрение как внутри-, так и внешнеполитического аспекта. Выдвинут тезис о том, что, несмотря на ряд различий в странах Прибалтики, с 1990-х гг. происходили схожие процессы трансформации политических элит, становление которых обусловлено принципом государственного континуитета как преемственности с довоенными режимами Латвии, Литвы и Эстонии, разрывом с советским прошлым и выбором курса на Евроатлантику как ключевым внешнеполитическим приоритетом. Результатом борьбы элит за власть в 1990-е гг. стало закрепление в обществах стран Прибалтики глубоких расколов - этнических, языковых, политических. После реализации идеи «возвращения в Европу» элиты стран Прибалтики заменили ее «российской угрозой», что позволило отложить преодоление внутренних расколов, чреватых ослаблением их власти.

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