Identity in Formation: The Russian-Speaking Populations in the New Abroad

by David D. Laitin

Book Overview

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, nationality groups have claimed sovereignty in the new republics bearing their names. With the ascendance of these titular nationality groups, Russian speakers living in the post-Soviet republics face a radical crisis of identity. That crisis is at the heart of David D. Laitin's book.Laitin portrays these Russian speakers as a "beached diaspora" since the populations did not cross international borders; the...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0801484952
• ISBN13: 9780801484957
• Release Date: June 1998
• Publisher: Cornell University Press
• Length: 432 Pages
• Weight: 0.15 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 6.1" x 9.2"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

Well written and extremely interesting

This is a carefully researched, thoughtful and well-written examination of the Russian speaking population in the "near abroad" since the break up of the Soviet Union. While my experience is largely with Lithuania, his discussion of the Russian speaking population in Estonia and Latvia seemed insightful. As a minor criticism, or perhaps more as a term of reference for readers, I should note that Laitin seemed more sympathetic to the diaspora Russians than to the local populations. His discussion of Baltic events struck me as distinctly pro-ethnic Russian, although not outrageously so. Persons with Baltic ties may disagree with some his views, but they will still find them interesting.