The aim of this study is to map and conceptualize emergent discourses and practices of nationalism in Latvia as potential vectors of both solidarity and symbolic violence. Neoliberal socio-economic reforms of the past several decades have led to high inequality rates and prompted large-scale emigration while recent geopolitical threats have created an increasing sense of vulnerability and insecurity in the Latvian society. In this context, nationalist cultural policies, state-commissioned art, and everyday displays of national belonging have emerged in Latvia as key instruments of social solidarity and security. Yet, nationalism can work as an encompassing as well as exclusionary discourse, it can generate both solidarity and symbolic violence. This study will use a mixed-methods approach to gather new empirical data about the multifaceted manifestations of contemporary nationalism in art and cultural policy, the interaction of these varied manifestations, and their effects on particular communities and social groups. Drawing on the data, it will contribute to sociological theory development on nationalism as a source of social solidarity and symbolic violence in neoliberalism and on contemporary nationalist politics in Europe.

Liene Ozoliņa (Project Leader)

Baiba Tjarve (Project participant)

Anda Laķe (Project participant)

Elīna Vikmane (Student project participant)

Ketrisa Petkeviča (Student project participant)

Laura Brutāne (Student project participant)

Dita Pfeifere (Student project participant)