Reviews for The Baltic Transformed: Complexity Theory and European Security

The average rating for The Baltic Transformed: Complexity Theory and European Security based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2015-02-20 00:00:00 Luigi Antonelli Can state already now that the best piece that has been written about Estonian/Baltic near history. For some reason all domestic accounts get distorted by national myth-making. Savisaar is addressed as "Edward Savisaar" - they got that wrong for sure :) Very accurate account in predicting Russia's future courses of action, that in 2000. Several mistakes around facts and names - Kursk submarine did not sink in the Baltic Sea, it was Barents Sea in fact. Taking the star off. As said despite of some errors in names/facts a very good account on Baltic history. I think every keen student of international affairs/relations should read it. Talks a lot about what makes state fit, mutual gain theory, interdependence etc. Basically describes accurately that Russian economic/military revival will be encompassed by its increasing aggression towards historical "sphere of influence". Dwells on some policy mistakes around Russian speaking minorities in Estonia and Latvia as well as clearly posits that Russia with the implementation of Karaganov doctrine in 1999 into compatriot policy never meant integration policies to work out in any of the former Soviet republics. Sad place geographically and geopolitically where Balts have been put. Interesting analysis is also presented about region's history and subjugation to foreign powers throughout centuries shaping the insecurities in the psychic of Baltic nations.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-08-16 00:00:00 Alfredo Barroga 'Defiance' just made it to the NY Times paperback best seller list even tho it came out more than 15 years ago. The reason for its popularity now, of course, is that the film has been released and has created interest in the story and in Nechama Tec's book. That's why I read it. After seeing the film, I wanted to know more about the Bielski brothers/partisans and what really happened in the forest. As I suspected, the film does not do justice to the book, or, even more important, to what actually happened. But give the movie credit for stirring interest in these events. Tec's portrayal is of a group of Jews (The Bielksi Partisans) in Belorussiain WWII who lived in the forest, seeking to escape the German slaughters. The story is truly inspiring and shows a different view than the one most often portrayed of helpless Jewish victims, unable, unwilling to fight the terrors of the Third Reich. Tec, a scholar and a Holocaust survivor herself, focuses on Tuvia Bielski, an unlikely leader who eventually leads 1200 Jews to safety. The book tells the story of this truly amazing individual and describes how these Jews survived in the forest, how this group of refugees formed a community, how they lived, and how and why they were the most successful and largest group of partisans to make it to safety. It's an inspiring story, unevenly written and told and one that stillleft me wanting to know more than Tec was able to portray. But this story deserves to be heard. Tuvia Bielski and his brothers deserve a more prominent place in Jewish history than they have received. Tuvia was never truly recognized for his heroic efforts (other than by those he saved) and the remainder of his life, in Israel and the US, was apparently sad and without the honors that should have been bestowed upon him. Hopefully this story and Tuvia and his brothers will now receive the recognition they deserve.