Die Gesamtheit der musikwissenschaftlichen Tätigkeitsformen kann mit einem großangelegten Betrieb oder - noch genauer ausgedrückt - mit einem Markt verglichen werden.

Energy security is currently a favourite topic. It is being talked about in the context of several conflicts in Third World countries that, due to the supply of energy raw materials such as oil and gas, affect the rest of the world. For some states, however, the issue of ensuring energy security is a more vital. Some states, such as the Baltic countries - Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, are dependent on supplies of fossil fuels from neighbouring countries. Moreover, up until recently their energy markets have not been liberalized, nor connected to the rest of the Europe. It is a well-known fact that the Russian Federation is the main supplier of these raw materials to them. Therefore, the Baltic states have been trying to reduce the influence of the Russian Federation in the Baltic region since they regained independence 26 years ago. This diploma thesis deals with the analysis of the energy security of all three Baltic countries. The thesis carefully analyses all aspects of their energy sector. It examines the historical development of the region, thanks to which we can understand the influence of the Russian Federation on the Baltics energy sector, as well as the level of international cooperation of the Baltic states with the EU in ensuring energy security. The analysis also focus on the...

Purpose: The purpose of particular study is to explore individuals’ perceptions of knowledge sharing and its obstacles in a multigenerational engineering company. This study focuses on two groups of individuals: employees and managers. The perception of knowledge sharing and how differently generations perceive it is covered in this study. The obstacles which could occur during knowledge sharing between different generations in the engineering field are explored. The role of management in knowledge sharing processes is also covered. Methodology: To explore individuals’ perceptions of knowledge sharing and its obstacles in a multigenerational engineering company. A qualitative research approach was applied, using single company case study strategy. The case company is one of the leading construction engineering companies in Latvia. The primary data was gathered by conducting 12 semi-structured interviews, 3 interviews per every generation (Millennial, Generation X and Baby boomer) and 3 interviews with managers. The secondary data was obtained from the company, which included internal documents covering the general information about the company, guidelines and policies. By the usage of primary and secondary data triangulation of the study was reached. Findings: The thesis provides analysis of knowledge sharing and its obstacles within the multigenerational workforce of a construction engineering company. The perceptions of three generational cohorts such as Baby Boomers, Generation X and Millennials are presented. The conceptual framework for the study was built on the basis of three dimensions such as organizational. individual and technological obstacles. Based on the conceptual framework, authors brought up several propositions which supported the analysis process. The analysis showed that there are differences in perception of knowledge sharing and obstacles connected with it between engineers of different generations. Originality: There has not been any research about knowledge sharing between different generations in Latvia nor in Northern Europe, in general. The engineering field is a knowledge intensive sector, therefore knowledge sharing is crucial. Labor force still contains three different generations, thus it is important to explore whether engineering companies in Latvia have faced knowledge sharing obstacles, as it is a rapidly developing sector in this particular country.

Languages are not just systems for communication, they are also often a marker of ethnic and/or national identity and sometimes a politically contentious issue. A country where this is the case is Latvia, which has a large Russian-speaking population. During the Soviet occupation of Latvia, Russian became the dominant language in public life. Since regaining independence, Latvia has pursued language policies aimed at strengthening the position of the Latvian language, at the expense of the Russian. Latvian is the single official language and over the last decades, the bilingual education system inherited from the Soviet Union has moved towards an increasing share of Latvian as the language of instruction. In 2018, the Latvian parliament amended two educational laws, meaning the share of subjects being instructed in Latvian in so-called minority schools increased markedly. The decision was controversial and was opposed by parties with a large Russian-speaking voter base. The purpose of the thesis is twofold. The first is to describe and analyse the arguments of political actors[1] regarding mono- and multilingual education, focusing on the reform of 2018. The arguments will be analysed in relation to theory regarding the connection between nationalism/nationhood and language, and theory on linguistic minority rights. The second part of the purpose is to advocate normatively and constructively for an approach regarding two different areas of policy: 1) Whether Russian should be an official language or not. 2) Language policy in education. The point of departure for the analysis is the aspiration to create a sense of national belonging, where both Russian-speakers and Latvian-speakers are seen as a part of the Latvian imagined community. In order to create this sense of inclusive imagined community, the approach seeks to be impartial in relation to the “pro-Latvian” and “pro-minority” positions with regards to language policy. The normative argumentation also seeks to include and balance the values of linguistic minority rights and preserving small languages (such as Latvian). For the first part of the thesis, a descriptive idea analysis is applied. The arguments are analysed in relation to my theoretical framework, which consists of various concepts relating to the relationship between language and nationalism and models regarding linguistic rights. The main analytical tool is the concept of an imagined community, where a sense of national belonging and social cohesion can be based on either mono- or multilingualism. In the second part, a normative and constructive method is used to argue for my position in a systematic fashion.   The arguments of the proponents of the 2018 reform can be described as based on the idea that Latvian is the common and unifying language of all the Latvian residents and one of the foundations of the imagined Latvian community. At the same time, the proponents claim wanting to ensure that members of linguistic minorities can preserve their language, and that the reform provides the right to learn a minority language. The opponents of the reform argue that, while it is important that students learn the Latvian language, drastically decreasing the level of instruction is an assimilatory policy that will weaken rather than strengthen the national unity.   In the second part, the author suggests that Latvian will remain the single official language since granting the Russian language official status may cause the language decline of Latvian, and because the issue is very divisive. In terms of language in the school system, the author concludes that Latvian ought to have a special position in Latvia and should therefore be the dominant language. Therefore, Latvian should be the main language of instruction, in the proportions prescribed by the 2018 reform. Another conclusion is that all students, regardless of mother tongue, should learn Russian on at least an elementary level. [1] Specified under “Delimitations”.

This thesis presents a study of Andrejs Jurjāns' significant symphonic works as informed by a native musicologist, Professor Jānis Torgāns, and illuminates Jurjāns' role within the cosmopolitan framework of nationalism in music.

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This thesis discusses the Soviet mass deportation historical culture narrative formation and their use of history in contemporary Latvia. Looking to find research answer to question of: How are the Soviet mass deportations of 1941 and 1949 used in, and forms Latvian historical culture, in the novel Five Fingers and the film Chronicles of Melanie? The analysis is done via three connected parts using concepts of use of history, cultural and social memory. First, the paper gives an analysis of socio-historical context giving the historical background of mass deportations and the emerging historical culture use in society since 1986. The second part of the paper focuses on two separate narrative analysis of Latvian cultural expressions. The book “Five fingers” by Mara Zalite and the film “Chronicles of Melanie” dir. Viesturs Kairish. Both works analysed by their portrayed story narrative of deportation experience and how they form cultural narratives and use history within the work. The last part of the paper is interpretation- reinterpretation of socio-historical and narrative analysis together. To see the role of the novel and film, have in the use of historical culture, and how they help form the historical narrative in society. Analysing the broader context via social media responses book and film received from the public and seeing how cultural works are forming historical culture in Latvia. The thesis concluded that the novel and film are moral and existential uses of history, as they discuss topics censored during the Soviet period. The authors feel a duty to bring accounts of the past back to the centre of attention in order for people not to forget. Additionally, both works are playing a part in forming new narrative within historical culture, by moving away from identifying as the victim of soviet deportations to survivors of the past. Thus, playing an important role in Soviet mass deportation historical culture in Latvia.

The forests play a big role in the work for climate change mitigation. Carbon credits can be used as a tool to encourage forest projects to increase the uptake of CO₂ from the atmosphere. This study aimed to analyze and explain the conditions for the production of and trade with carbon credits from Latvian forests and abandoned or fallow agricultural land, and what consequences it could lead to. The results, which were compiled from interviews and a literature study, show that a national system for carbon credits most likely will be implemented in Latvia in a few years. There are a few ongoing carbon credit projects in Latvian forests, and there is a big interest in the area. Many consequences have to be considered when it comes to forestry and carbon credit systems, but the potential in Latvia is big.

How do small EU member states approach the Council Presidency: is the Presidency a silencer or an amplifier of national interests? Moreover, what challenges and opportunities do a small state face in the Presidency? In this comparative case study, I analysed the approach, challenges and opportunities of three member states in relation to the chairmanship: Denmark, an old and experienced member state and its Presidency in 2012; Latvia, a relatively new member state and first time Presidency in 2015; and finally Estonia, another new member, and its upcoming first time Presidency in 2018.My main findings indicate that the Presidency functions as a silencer for first time holders of the Presidency; and as an amplifier for Denmark, which efficiently used cognitive power resources to tilt the Presidency agenda in its favour, while remaining an honest broker. The Presidency offers many opportunities, among which the most important is the transformation of the public administration. Moreover, to showcase the EU to the incumbent state, and vice versa, is important for the integration process. It is also essential for the identity formation of small states to prove their capacity within the union. Finally, I established that a close relationship with the Commission is an important leadership quality and power resource for small states. For small states, the Presidency represents a challenge for the public administration, while unforeseeable events can entirely change the course of the Presidency. Furthermore, the domestic as well as the European political landscape can negatively influence the decision-making.

<p>Stone Age research on Northern Europe frequently makes gross generalizations about the Mesolithic and Neolithic, although we still lack much basic knowledge on how the people lived. The transition from the Mesolithic to the Neolithic in Europe has been described as a radical shift from an economy dominated by marine resources to one solely dependent on farming. Both the occurrence and the geographical extent of such a drastic shift can be questioned, however. It is therefore important to start out at a more detailed level of evidence in order to present the overall picture, and to account for the variability even in such regional or chronological overviews. Fifteen Stone Age sites were included in this study, ranging chronologically from the Early Mesolithic to the Middle or Late Neolithic, c. 8300–2500 BC, and stretching geographically from the westernmost coast of Sweden to the easternmost part of Latvia within the confines of latitudes 55–59° N. The most prominent sites in terms of the number of human and faunal samples analysed are Zvejnieki, Västerbjers and Skateholm I–II. Human and faunal skeletal remains were subjected to stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analysis to study diet and ecology at the sites. Stable isotope analyses of human remains provide quantitative information on the relative importance of various food sources, an important addition to the qualitative data supplied by certain artefacts and structures or by faunal or botanical remains. A vast number of new radiocarbon dates were also obtained.</p><p>In conclusion, a rich diversity in Stone Age dietary practice in the Baltic Region was demonstrated. Evidence ranging from the Early Mesolithic to the Late Neolithic show that neither chronology nor location alone can account for this variety, but that there are inevitably cultural factors as well. Food habits are culturally governed, and therefore we cannot automatically assume that people at similar sites will have the same diet. </p><p>Stable isotope studies are very important here, since they tell us what people actually consumed, not only what was available, or what one single meal contained. We should not be deceived in inferring diet from ritually deposited remains, since things that were mentally important were not always important in daily life. Thus, although a ritual and symbolic norm may emphasize certain food categories, these may in fact contribute very little to the diet. By the progress of analysis of intra-individual variation, new data on life history changes have been produced, revealing mobility patterns, breastfeeding behaviour and certain dietary transitions. The inclusion of faunal data has proved invaluable for understanding the stable isotope ecology of a site, and thereby improve the precision of the interpretations of human stable isotope data. The special case of dogs, though, demonstrates that these animals are not useful for inferring human diet, since, due to the number of roles they possess in human society, dogs could deviate significantly from humans in their diet, and in several cases have been proved to do so. </p><p>When evaluating radiocarbon data derived from human and animal remains from the Pitted-Ware site of Västerbjers on Gotland, the importance of establishing the stable isotope ecology of the site before making deductions on reservoir effects was further demonstrated. </p><p>The main aim of this thesis has been to demonstrate the variation and diversity in human practices, challenging the view of a “monolithic” Stone Age. By looking at individuals and not only at populations, the whole range of human behaviour has been accounted for, also revealing discrepancies between norm and practice, which are frequently visible both in the archaeological record and in present-day human behaviour. </p>