Geschichte, Rechtsgeschichte und nationale Identität in Lettland im 20. und 21. Jahrhundert

History is not only the information contained in textbooks and scientific publications, history is also peoples' memories of the past, the subjective view of the peoples and nations on what has happened with themselves and their ancestors in the course of time. It is experience of nations, empirically gained and accumulated, with which we live on. Different social groups, however, which now live together in Latvia, have different historical experiences - which leads quite often to reciprocal misunderstanding. The history of a nation and state is not separable from their national identity. The concept of nation itself implies common (identical) values which derive from collective self-confidence. The very foundation of a nation is a common political and cultural experience, which has been accumulated in the past. It is being passed on with the assistance of history as a study discipline.