The Power of Freedom
Mart Laar
"The Power of Freedom" describes a gripping journey through the history of Central and Eastern Europe, mapping the anticommunist resistance and the changes of 1989. It offers a detailed analysis of alternative models of post-communist transition and successful integration of Central and Eastern European countries into the Euro–Atlantic structures. It is a book about courage and solidarity. It is also a book about freedom and democracy winning over fear and oppression.
Author
Dr. Mart Laar was born in 1960 in Estonia. He studied history at Tartu University, where he obtained his MA in 1995 and PhD in 2005. He participated actively in the restoration of Estonian independence and has been a member of the Estonian parliament since 1992. Mart Laar was the Prime Minister of Estonia from 1992 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2002. During his tenure, he launched reforms that paved the way for Estonia’s rapid economic growth in the course of “Baltic Tiger” period and its admission to E.U. and NATO entry talks. He has also been an economic adviser to Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili. Laar has received several international honours and awards such as the Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty from the Cato Institute, the Faith & Freedom Award from the Acton Institute and is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society. Mart Laar has written several books on Estonian and Soviet history, including War in the Woods: Estonia’s Struggle for Survival, 1944–1956, and is a founding member of the Unitas Foundation.
Acknowledgments
Scores of books have been written on topics related to the Cold War, the Fall of Communism and the transition of captive nations into democracies. Most of these books have been written by people from the side of the Iron Curtain where freedom and prosperity were enjoyed. But considering the events of 1989 and the ensuing developments, a different perspective is in order. It is important to understand what the citizens of Central and Eastern Europe felt and thought under Communism and how they brought the Evil Empire to its long overdue end.
This book would never have been possible without the help of numerous people and organisations. First and foremost I am indebted to the Centre for European Studies, whose aid and cooperation enabled us to accomplish this enormous task. Roland Freudenstein, Tomi Huhtanen, KatarГna KrГЎlikovГЎ and many others provided invaluable help in the process. My gratitude also belongs to the Unitas Foundation, which worked hard to make this “mission impossible” possible. Many thanks go to Uve Poom, Veiko Lukmann, Heiko Unt, Sophie Williams and Henri Perkmann, among others.
Instrumental assistance in research for the book came from Andres Klaar and Fredo Arias King. The information and data gathered by them was enormously valuable and made it possible to finish the book on time. Their comments and observations helped me to significantly improve the book. I am indeed extremely thankful for everyone’s contributions, rigour and patience in the publishing process.
Moreover, this book would not have materialised without Marko Mihkelson, who devoted himself to writing the chapter on the reintegration of Europe. I am also very thankful to the Terror House Museum in Budapest, the National Remembrance Institute in Poland, Tunne Kelam’s Bureau in the European Parliament and the many friends who provided illustrations for this book.
I also owe a great deal to my wife Katrin and my children. I took time to write this book from time that actually belonged to my family and for that I am grateful.
Last but not least, this book is inspired by and dedicated to the brave people who never ceased to dream, continued to fight and in the end achieved their long-awaited and much-desired aspiration – FREEDOM.
Foreword
�I trust that these times will vanish like a horrible nightmare. It gives me strength to stand here and breathe. Our nation has suffered much and therefore we will survive these dark times,’ announced the Latvian freedom fighter Gunār