Civic Nationalism, the Birth of a Democracy, and the Continuation of Russian Tension An Examination of Lithuania in the Post-Soviet Era

One of the most dramatically growing states in recent decades, Lithuania remains strong and prosperous despite the volatile state of its region. The largest of the Baltic states, Lithuania sits south of Latvia and northwest of Belarus, enjoying around 160 miles of Baltic Sea coastline and high volumes of trade. Through the highs of the Lithuanian Empire and the lows of Soviet control, Lithuania has undergone a checkered history, specifically with Russia; which created a strong sense of nationalism that in post-Soviet times has been funneled into rebuilding the once-proud nation. A growing pillar of democracy in Eastern Europe, Lithuania’s nationalism has developed the nation into a de-centralized and politically competitive democratic country fortified with a strong economy and diverse international connections; completely opposed to Russia, who has spiraled into a corruption-filled dictatorship, yet one still clinging to the stage of the world’s most powerful.