A Fifth Year of Independence: Lithuania, 1922 and 1994 Cover Image
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A Fifth Year of Independence: Lithuania, 1922 and 1994
A Fifth Year of Independence: Lithuania, 1922 and 1994

Author(s): Tomas Venclova
Subject(s): Political history, Government/Political systems, Pre-WW I & WW I (1900 -1919), Transformation Period (1990 - 2010), Period(s) of Nation Building
Published by: SAGE Publications Ltd
Keywords: Lithuania; fifth year of independence; declaration of independence; declarations of 1918 and 1990; occupying power; liberation process;

Summary/Abstract: The Declarations of 16 February 1918 and of 11 March 1990 have much in common. Both declarations of independence were made under conditions of occupation. Foreign powers holding Lithuania under their rule-in the first instance Germany, in the second the Soviet Unionwere playing an intricate game with its society. Initially, Sajudis and its leadership, like the Council of Lithuania in 1918, were acting with the connivance and even with a kind of approval of the occupying authorities. Pursuing their own goals, far from identical with the Lithuanian interest, neither occupying power objected to a limited Lithuanian selfrule, but were strictly opposed to any aspirations for full independence of the country. In both cases, the liberation process quickly slipped out of their control. Lithuania, whose leaders were better able to anticipate the course of events than their adversaries and who succeeded in aptly exploiting the inner divisions and weaknesses of the regime, won the game. [...]

  • Issue Year: 09/1995
  • Issue No: 02
  • Page Range: 344-367
  • Page Count: 24
  • Language: English