Lithuania

In 1990, Lithuania became the first Soviet republic to break with the communist empire by declaring the restitution of political independence. Depicting a country at the crossroads of imperial designs, Vardys and Sedaitis trace the history, development, and ultimate triumph of the Lithuanian nation. They begin by exploring Lithuanias pagan ancestry and epochal struggles with Germanic and Russian states, with special emphasis on the first period of political independence between the two World Wars and on the effort to regain freedom in the wake of the perestroika reforms. The authors conclude by examining Lithuanias struggle with the legacy of Soviet rule as it strives to establish democracy and economic prosperity.

Author Biography

The late V. Stanley Vardys was professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma. Judith B. Sedaitis is research associate with the centre for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University. The late V. Stanley Vardys was professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma. Judith B. Sedaitis is research associate with the centre for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University. The late V. Stanley Vardys was professor of political science at the University of Oklahoma. Judith B. Sedaitis is research associate with the centre for International Security and Arms Control at Stanford University.