Latvia

The Present in the Shadow of the past

The best-known case of an historical social network in Latvia can be traced to the Livonia Order, the beginning of which goes back to the 13th century. The Livonia Order is a Catholic military-political organization established in 1237. The founder and the predecessor of this order, the Teutonic Order, provided the new organization with the access to financial and human resources. The Livonia Order maintained relationships with the knights from other European countries, who joined their organization looking for adventure. Since its establishment, the prestige and status of the order grew in the region. However, after losing the fateful Grunwald battle (1410), its position in the joined Polish and Lithuanian army weakened. A strict hierarchy was common to the order; the highest authority was the master elected for life. The master residencies were in Riga or in Cesis (former Vendene). The master of the Livonian Order was subject to the master of the Teutonic Order. All important questions were considered in the order fraternity meeting or convent.

The membership in this network was strictly regulated. One of the necessary conditions was the nationality of the member, as he had to be German and belong to an old nobleman family. While entering the order, the future member had to take a vow to serve his entire life and to manifest Christianity. The members of the network were called brothers; they could not marry or have wealth outside the order. These differences could be noted according to their clothes. Knights wore a white cloak with a black cross, while some members of the order, called half-brothers, wore different clothing from the true brothers. The communication of the network members with the external world was restrained [Page 479]by a strict statute, which prohibited them from going out from home, writing and getting letters, or talking to women without the permission of the superior.

The sources for the rise of two contemporary political social networks are the consequence of events in the last century. One of these networks is comprised of the veterans of the Latvian legion, Waffen SS, who served in the former Nazi Germany army, and the nationalistic youth who now join them. The activities of the legion were to be acknowledged by a national Latvian festival on March 16, 1998; however, the Seimas (parliament) later admitted its fault and crossed it off the list of official festivals. However, the procession of the veterans and youth is still organized annually, which evokes many controversies and discussions. According to one opinion, the members of the Latvian SS legion fought for their independence from the Soviet Union; on the other hand, their actions were directed toward humanity, and they are accused of killing many Jews, Russians, and people of other nationalities.

...