Why is Balkanisation Good but Balticisation Bad?
When Peter Hain raises the spectre of Balkanisation are we to assume that he would have preferred the continuation of a one-party state, dominated by one of its constituent groups which supressed the cultures and aspirations of its minorities?
And will Mr Hain please explain why Balkanisation - the fulfilment of national hopes by the dissolution of a large and centralised state - is a bad thing, but Balticisation - the fulfilment of national hopes etc - is a good thing? Both the Balkans and the Baltics now contain states smaller than Wales (Slovenia and Montenegro in the former and Estonia and Latvia in the latter) and I don't hear any of them begging to be reincorporated into their fomer empires.
About Me
- David Thomas
- I was born and brought up in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. I was educated in the primary and secondary schools in Haverfordwest, at the Universities of Oxford (Keble College) and Wales (Cardiff and Aberystwyth) and the South Wales Theological College. I live just outside Llanwddyn, near Lake Vyrnwy, Montgomeryshire. I work in the Maelor School, Penley, where I am Head of Modern Languages and Professional Development Coordinator. I am Chair of the Governors of Ysgol Efyrnwy, Llanwddyn,the Lake Vyrnwy Marathon Committee and the Plaid Cymru Branch for North Montgomeryshire. I am Vice-Chair of the Powys Eisteddfod 2007 Learners’ Committee. I am a member of the Powys Citizens’ Panel, the Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, the Guilsfield Singers and Friends of Mid Wales Opera. I am also a member of the World Development Movement and the Institute for Welsh Affairs. My priorities are what everybody in Montgomeryshire deserves:good schools in the villages as well as the towns; good health care in Montgomeryshire as well as Shropshire; good transport links into and around Montgomeryshire and good planning which provides jobs in both the countryside and the towns.
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