The Case for Latvia

The Case for Latvia. Disinformation Campaigns Against a Small Nation. Fourteen Hard Questions and Straight Answers about a Baltic Country is a non-fiction book on the history of Latvia by the awarded Finnish author Jukka Rislakki.[1] The book was first published 2007 in the Finnish language. It was translated to English by Richard Impola and published by the Rodopi publishing house 2008. An expanded second edition was published January 2014.[2] The Case for Latvia is part of the series On the Boundary of Two Worlds: Identity, Freedom, and Moral Imagination in the Baltics.[3]

The Case for Latvia
Book cover of the 2nd expanded edition released in 2014
AuthorJukka Rislakki
Original titleTapaus Latvia
TranslatorRichard Impola
CountryFinland
LanguageEnglish
SeriesOn the Boundary of Two Worlds
PublisherRodopi
Publication date
2008; 2014 (expanded 2nd edition)
Pages296
ISBN978-90-420-2424-3
OCLC233026199

Languages and editions
Book cover of the original edition released in 2008

The Case for Latvia was first published 2007 in the Finnish language with the title "Tapaus Latvia. Pieni kansakunta disinformaatiokampanjan kohteena",[4] and has since then also been published in the Latvian language with the title: "Maldināšana: Latvijas gadījums" (2008),[5] and in the Russian language with the title: "Манипуляции фактами: латвийский вариант" (2011).[6] The English version, translated from Finnish by Richard Impola, was published by the Rodopi publishing house 2008, and an expanded second edition was published January 2014.

Cross of Recognition

On 4 May 2009, the day of restoration of independence of the Republic of Latvia, the author was awarded the Latvian Cross of Recognition for "selfless promotion of the Latvian image abroad and national patriotic education of youth".[7][8] The Case for Latvia is the only book by Jukka Rislakki about Latvia, that has been translated to English.[9]

Reception

The Latvian language version of The Case for Latvia was reviewed by the Delfi web portal. The review comments on some of the points given in the book: "The analyses [of the book] also helps to understand, why the small and militarily weak Latvia in different surveys, for so long has been looked upon as Russia's enemy number one",[10] and "The Case for Latvia is mainly written for readers in the USA, even though Latvian readers may find new and interesting news".[11]

The Case for Latvia was reviewed by two Latvian American scholars in the Latvian language magazine Jaunā Gaita. Gundars Ķeniņš-Kings (1926–2015), dean of School of Business at the Pacific Lutheran University, and Aija Veldre Beldavs (1941–2009), Doctor of Philosophy at the Folklore Archives at Indiana University.[5] Beldavs initiates her review by the following comment: "It is easy to spread lies. After that, they folklorize, live their independent lives far from the truth. There is little help in facts that are rich in rebukes. Information wars are usually won by the strong and wealthy. In an unequal collision, small nations should be content with a purposeful, systematic, value-enhancing and creative approach to establishing evidence for rebuttal of lies".

Journal of Baltic Studies (Volume 40, issue no. 3) has published a review of The Case for Latvia by Lars Johannsen, Department of Political Science at Aarhus University, School of Business and Social Sciences;[12][13] Violeta Davoliute, Vytautas Magnus University; Allan Sikk, School of Slavonic and East European Studies, University College London; Harvey L. Hix, University of Wyoming.[14] The reviewer, Lars Johannsen is complimentary and describes the book over two pages. He starts by describing the book as a "spirited defense of Latvia", and says "The book is well written and will find its best audience among those who, like my students, have an interest in but little systematic knowledge of Latvia".[14]

Book cover

The image on the cover of the book for both editions is of a drawing by Benita Plezere, who was deported on 25 May 1949 from Latvia to Siberia, together with her family. She created drawings of their experiences during their travel, which she mailed as postcards to her grandmother. The drawings now are the property of the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia.

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References
  1. 2008. "Other Books Received." American Historical Review 113, no. 4: 1288-1297. Education Research Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed February 19, 2018).
  2. The Case for Latvia: Disinformation Campaigns Against a Small Nation. Brill Publishers. January 2008. ISBN 9789401206051. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  3. Anon, 2008. Case for Latvia: Disinformation Campaigns against a Small Nation: Fourteen Hard Questions and Straight Answers about a Baltic Country.(Brief article)(Book review). Reference & Research Book News, pp.Reference & Research Book News, Nov, 2008.
  4. Tapaus Latvia : pieni kansakunta disinformaatiokampanjan kohteena (in Finnish). University of Oulu. 2007. ISBN 9789517682114. Retrieved 25 June 2017.
  5. "2 ZINĀTŅU DOKTORI PAR RISLAKI VEIKUMU". Jaunā Gaita (in Latvian). June 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  6. Манипуляции фактами :латвийский вариант : четырнадцать острых вопросов и прямых ответов. Stanford University. 2011. ISBN 9789984389073. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  7. "Ar Atzinības krustu apbalvoto personu reģistrs" (doc) (in Latvian). Chancery of the Latvian President. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  8. "Latvijas valsts apbalvojumus saņem Pori pilsētas mērs Aino Maija Lūkonena un somu žurnālists Juka Rislaki" (in Latvian). Embassy of the Republic of Latvia in Helsinki. 6 May 2009. Retrieved 4 September 2011. Ordeņu kapituls iecēlis par Atzinības krusta virsnieku somu žurnālistu un rakstnieku Juku Rislaki (Jukka Rislakki). Viņam tika piešķirts IV šķiras Atzinības krusts par nesavtīgu Latvijas tēla popularizēšanu ārvalstīs un jauniešu nacionāli patriotisko audzināšanu. Atzinības krustu Juka Rislaki saņēma Latvijas Neatkarības deklarācijas pasludināšanas dienā Rīgā
  9. "Results for "Jukka Rislakki"". Worldcat. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  10. "Juka Rislaki 'Maldināšana: Latvijas gadījums'" (in Latvian). Delfi. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2017. Analīze palīdz arī izprast, kāpēc mazā un militāri vājā Latvija dažādās aptaujās tik ilgi bijusi Krievijas ienaidnieks numur viens.
  11. "Juka Rislaki 'Maldināšana: Latvijas gadījums'" (in Latvian). Delfi. 13 November 2008. Retrieved 24 June 2017. "Maldināšana: Latvijas gadījums" sarakstīts, galvenokārt domājot par lasītājiem ASV, tomēr arī latviešu lasītāji atradīs jaunas un interesantas ziņas.
  12. "Books Received". Journal of Baltic Studies. 40 (1): 167. March 2009. doi:10.1080/01629770902722336.
  13. "Review of Jukka Rislakki, The Case for Latvia: Disinformation Campaigns Against a Small Nation: Fourteen Hard Questions and Straight Answers About a Baltic Country. Rodopi, 2008". Aarhus University. 2009. Retrieved 24 June 2017.
  14. Johannsen, Lars; Davoliute, Violeta; Sikk, Allan; Hix, Harvey L. (18 August 2009). "Book Reviews: Journal of Baltic Studies: Vol 40, No 3". Journal of Baltic Studies. 40 (3): 437–445. doi:10.1080/01629770903086319.

Further reading
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