Lettiska Identitet och Kultur i Sammanhanget med Öst Invigdning av Europeiska Unionen
This research addresses the issues of identity and culture in Latvia in the context of the upcoming European Union enlargement in 2004. Political self- determination of Latvia was historically indebted to culture. The phenomenon of cultural identity, so important 12 years ago when Latvian independence was regained, is largely ignored by politicians in the upcoming enlargement process. This is especially worth attention since the 8-th parliamentary elections took place in October 2002. The obvious lack of interest in cultural issues on the part of politicians is compensated by the apprehensions in the society (reflected in mass media) to loose Latvian specific culture and identity when joining the big European family. The external political course of the government has one aim on the agenda: joining the EU, with no more alternatives for the future development of Latvia. From the point of view of Foucault?s post-modern theory the opportunities of the enlargement looked forward to by the authorities are viewed as operations of power with information about the pluses and minuses of the membership. Economic and political opportunities for Latvia in the EU and the security issues solvable under the European roof are explained by the transition of Latvian modern political discourse into the post-modern modality. Post-modern deconstruction strategies concern culture in the EU to the greatest extent. Latvian public, traditionally conservative, treats the desubjectivation of culture with skepticism and fears of globalization.