Memory as Policy: Historical Narratives and Their Role in Shaping Baltic Strategies Towards Russia

• In Event: Contested Legacies of the Past and Politics of Memory in the Baltic Region

Abstract

This paper aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the past continues to inform the Baltic’s present and future policies towards Russia. Historical memory is the central pillar in shaping the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania’s policies towards Russia, influencing their diplomatic, security, and societal approaches. Baltic states, having endured decades of Soviet Occupation and repression, frame their foreign policy through a lens of historical trauma and national identity. This memory politics reinforces a cautious and often adversarial stance towards Russia, as they perceive Russia’s actions- such as the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its ongoing influence in Eastern Europe- as continuations of historical patterns of aggression and expansionism. Post-independence, the Baltic states prioritised integration into Euro-Atlantic structures by joining the EU and NATO in 2004 as a safeguard against Russian influence. Their policies emphasise sovereignty, democratic resilience and collective security, rooted in the memory of the Soviet occupation. Therefore, relations with Russia remain consistently strained.

Author

• Anoop Kumar, Jawaharlal Nehru U (India)