著者

志摩 園子

出版者

The Japanese Association for Russian and East European Studies

雑誌

ロシア・東欧研究 (ISSN:13486497)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.2009, no.38, pp.30-46, 2009 (Released:2011-10-14)

参考文献数

20

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The purpose of this paper is to examine why Latvia was affected deeply by the financial crisis among EU and other countries. In order to shed light on the situation before and after the financial crisis in 2008, we should at first point out the background factors. The wide-scale demonstration against the economic policy of the last Government in January, 2009 is still fresh in our minds. As a result of the demonstration, Prime Minister Ivars Godmanis was forced to resign and in last March, a young politician, Valdis Dombrovskis from Jaunas Laiks came on stage as the Prime Minister. As the cause of steep economic rise, Minister of Finance Einars Repše explained the 18% sharp decrease of GDP in 2009 resulting from the end of the bubble economy in Latvia. According to the survey by the European Commission, conducted in autumn, 2009, 97% responded that it was very bad or rather bad on the economic situation. The survey also shows that 88% of respondents distrust the Government. The author analyzes the background factors from the following three. First, there are still all kinds of legacy from past Soviet times. It is true that wide-scale social transformations had occurred since 1991, but we have to take into consideration Latvia’s historical background with Soviet times. Second, she had to make efforts to speed up to convert to a market economy and to develop it. It was because Latvia wanted to keep up with the current tendencies in Eastern Europe so as to enter EU membership. She was afraid of being left behind from the neighboring countries, like other Baltic countries or the Central European countries. Third, the Government gave priority to her external policy over her domestic policy after Latvia’s re-independence from Soviet Union in 1991. As a result, she could not sufficiently respond to a variety of demands and expectations of the people. She had to fulfill criteria for entering EU at first and at the same time the Government did not have the leeway to focus on internal issues. In particular, we must never forget the influence on the domestic issues at the time of becoming a member of EU and NATO are involved. To be sure, Latvia tended to depart from the economic tie away from her dependence on Russia, although they still have to rely heavily on Russia for energy. On the other hand, she accepted foreign investments from Scandinavian and other countries in a positive manner. After Latvia became a member of EU in 2004, foreign investment increased rapidly more than ever, although Latvia needed to develop the ability to achieve sustained economic growth on her own. Parex Bank’s rapid growth during the 1990s’ and the nationalization of Parex Bank in November 2008 after its bankruptcy shows us heavy Russian influence on Latvian economy. We have to continue paying attention to the invisible economic tie of Latvia with its influential neighboring country, Russia.

著者

志摩 園子

出版者

ロシア・東欧学会

雑誌

ロシア・東欧学会年報 (ISSN:21854645)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.1999, no.28, pp.212-219, 1999 (Released:2010-05-31)

参考文献数

14

著者

志摩 園子

雑誌

昭和女子大学女性文化研究所紀要 = Bulletin of the Institute of Women's Culture,Showa Women's University (ISSN:09160957)

巻号頁・発行日

no.45, pp.69-71, 2018-03-31

著者

志摩 園子

出版者

昭和女子大学

雑誌

學苑 (ISSN:13480103)

巻号頁・発行日

vol.772, pp.89-96, 2005-02-01

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This article is the writer's attempt to examine Japanese source materials relating to the diplomatic relations between Japan and Latvia in the period between the two World Wars. This paper, the first part of my work, begins with the Japanese government's approach toward the Latvian affairs at the time of Latvia's emergence as a nation state. The Estonian struggle for independence will also be examined under the new light of sources from the Diplomatic Record Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. The most interesting materials on Latvian affairs are included in such files as "The State of Russian Affairs at the Time of the Russian Revolutions and the Wars in Europe", "Secession and Incorporation of Various Countries", "The State of Internal Affairs in Various Countries: Latvia", "The Establishment of Japanese Diplomatic Agencies Abroad" and "Riga Joho (Riga Intelligence)", etc.. These documents reveal three features which characterize the Japanese government's position toward Latvia in the period leading to its independence. First, Japan's policy toward Latvia followed that of the Great Powers. Second, the Japanese government also had an interest in Latvia's economy. Third, the Japanese had very little information , about Latvia and other Baltic States.

著者

志摩 園子

出版者

昭和女子大学

雑誌

基盤研究(C)

巻号頁・発行日

2003

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冷戦終結後のヨーロッパの東方拡大により他の東・中央ヨーロッパ、バルト諸国と並んで、ラトヴィヤは2004年5月1日にヨーロッパ連合に正式加盟を果たした。これは、1991年に、ソ連から独立を回復してからのラトヴィヤの外交政策の最優先事項であった。このラトヴィヤの独立回復とその後の国家形成は、戦間期に独立をしていたラトヴィヤ共和国をその存在基盤としている。したがって、とりわけ、独立回復後の歴史の見直しにおいて、この「国民国家」ラトヴィヤが、いかに苦難の中から独立を勝ち取ったかという「国民の歴史」が重視され叙述されているのが現状である。このような描き方は、他のバルト諸国の歴史叙述も含めて、一般的なバルト諸国の国家形成史として、冷戦期は欧米の亡命者によって示され、冷戦終結後は、地域内で現われてきている。さらに、こういった歴史叙述の傾向は、戦間期の独立時代にみられたような国民国家としての「国民の歴史」の叙述を想起させるものであり、その歴史観の復活のようにもみえてくる。20世紀末のこの現象は、ラトヴィヤにとって、まさにソ連からの分離・独立回復としての思想的な裏づけをするための政治的な欲求の発露に他ならなかったのである。ところが、実際のラトヴィヤの独立経緯を歴史的な史実に基づいて考察するならば、果たして、国家形成を目指して独立したのかという疑問がわく。また、欧米の研究者が大国のパワーポリティックスの視点に立って国際政治的な観点から叙述する時、ラトヴィヤをはじめとするバルト諸国の独立は偶然の産物であるという主張にも疑問が生じる。これらの疑問に対して、著者は国際関係史の視点から次のように考える。ラトヴィヤ人の民族意識そのものは確かに19世紀後半から育ってきていたものの、実際の国際関係の複雑な動きとラトヴィヤ人の利益を反映するような主体的な動きとの複雑な絡み合いが、歴史的経過の中で係わり合いながら展開した結果、ラトヴィヤの独立に至ったと考えるのである。換言するならば、ラトヴィヤ人としての共通のアイデンティティや地域的な一体性への要求は展開されながらも、国民国家成立に向けての準備ができていないままに、複雑な国際環境の波間に投げ出されたラトヴィヤ人が、歴史の流れの中でラトヴィヤ人の利益を主体的に反映できるのは国民国家であるという理解に至るという経過こそが、独立国家成立への重要な背景となるのである。従って、国家基盤の脆弱性が、地域協力への関心へとつながっている。