Latvia & Russia: One problem of the world-peace considered

In the wake of the 1918‑19 peace negotiations, this work tackles the bewildering “Russian sphinx” that confounded delegates at the Paris Conference. The author surveys the tangled web of ethnic, economic and ideological forces roiling Russia— from the remnants of the imperial bureaucracy to the chaotic rise of the Bolsheviks— and shows how each faction presented its own blueprint for salvation.

Turning attention to the borderland peoples, the text examines the aspirations of nationalities long subjugated under Russian rule. Drawing on Latvia’s experience, it argues that any lasting solution must consider the desires of these groups for autonomy, while warning against postponing the issue indefinitely.

Through detailed listings of the myriad Russian representatives and their competing programs, the book offers a snapshot of the diplomatic turmoil that shaped early post‑war Europe, inviting listeners to grasp the complexities that still echo in today’s geopolitical landscape.