Estonia: A Study of Intercultural Communication Issues

By:Cierra Wallace

Jeff CobbSusan CalhounJennifer Rimer

About1991: Most recent independence

From Soviet Union

Domestic and international policiesCultural and political implications for

peacekeeping

Geographic location

Cyber security

Democratization

PurposeBrief analysis and implications:

Past, present, and futureRelationship with RussiaIndependenceDomestic relationsInternational relationsCyber security

Brief History

History1721: Baltic Landestaat created

Mid-late 19th century: Age of Estonians National Awakening

1884: Estonian Flag

Late 19th century: Failed Russianisation in Estonia

1905-1906: Estonian political parties formed

1914-1919: WWI fall of Russian empire

1917: February Revolution

HistoryMarch 1917: Province Assembly

October 1917: Preparations for declaring the Independence of Estonia

February 1918: Declaration of Independence and German Occupation

1918-1920: War of Independence and fight against Red Army

February 1920: Tartu Peace Treaty

HistoryJune 1920: First constitution

January 1921: Riigikogu, the new parliament

September 1921: Member of League of Nations

February 1925: Cultural Autonomy Act

1926: Cultural autonomy to Jews

1932-1933: Global financial crisis brings political crisis

March 1934: Coup

HistoryJune 1935: Increased naval fleet and German

influence

1938: Declaration of neutrality

August 1939: The Non-Aggression Treaty bNazi Germany and Soviet Union

September 1939: WWII begins, Estonia neutralSoviet military bases established in Estonia

June 1940: Soviet oppression of Estonian citizens

HistoryJuly 1940: Soviet order declared in Baltic states

Illegal elections

August 1940: Annexation of EstoniaAnnulment of Cultural Autonomy Act

June 1941: Mass deportations

July-October 1941: Forest brothers

September 1941: German civilian administration

July 1942: Estonia “free of Jews”

HistoryFebruary 1944: National Committee of the Republic

of Estonia formed

July-November 1944: USSR re-occupies Estonian territory

September 1944: Exile government created in Sweden

May 1945: End of WWII in Europe

March 1949: Mass deportations from Estonia to USSR

1990: First free elections in Estonia

HistoryAugust 1991: Restoration of independence

September 1991: Member of UN

June 1992: Monetary reform

July 1992: New constitution

August 1994: Russian armed forces withdraw

2004: Member of EU and NATO

2010: Member of OECD

2011: Eurozone and euro

Domestic Relations

Domestic Relations68% ethnic Estonians

25.6% Russians

2.1% Ukrainians

1.2% Belarusians

67.3% speak Estonian, 30% speak Russian

European and Soviet history

Estonian and Russian identities

Domestic Relations: Population and Politics

1939-1945: Population decreased, Estonians fight Estonians (a form of genocide)

1944: Russian industry

1945-1989: Population increase from immigration

1990-Current: Little immigration

1994-Current: Low rates of interracial marriage; geographically separate ethnic populations

1995: Naturalization requires Estonian language proficiency

Domestic Relations: Population and Politics

1999: Estonian proficiency required to work in certain sectors

April 2007: Re-location of bronze statue

Both ethnic Estonians and Russians work to avoid violenceThreat of NATO, EU, and Russia?

Relative separation peaceful coexistence?

Domestic Relations: Economics

Market-based economy

“E-stonia”

Equal opportunity policies

Discrimination persists2006: 9.7% non-ethnic Estonian unemployment

rate (4% for ethnic Estonians)No evidence that minorities receive less pay for

similar work

Higher salaries in Tallinn

Domestic Relations: Economics

Studies show language, segregation, and education do not cause wage gap

Discrimination in entry barriers?

Segregated social networks?

Domestic Relations: Religion

Religious freedom as constitutional right

No preferential treatment of religion

No state church

2002 law regulates activities of religious associations

Most secular country in the world

Lutheran and Orthodox Estonian Orthodox Church of Moscow Patriarchate Estonian Apostolic Orthodox Church of Constantinople

Domestic Relations: Religion

EOCMP fairly isolated

Conflict between orthodox groups Buildings, land, finances, language rights,

citizenship

Government financially supports religious groups

2 Challenges to Estonian churches today: Increasing individualism and consumerismEthnic divisions

Domestic Relations: Education

Segregated school system Does not impact quality of education

Different language requirements

Increase in English language education

Same standard exams Similar results

Slightly more Estonian-speakers with high school degrees

Proportion of college degrees similar

International Relations

International RelationsContinued tensions with Russia

This year Russia annexed Crimea territorySeen as effort to reoccupy USSR territories

Estonia committed to removing Communist and Nazi symbolsRussians saw it as equating Nazism and

Communism

Russian agents kidnapping Estonian police?

Estonian espionage?

International RelationsRussian threat to Baltic States continues

Russia maintains position toward Eastern Europe

Estonia niche in NATOEstonia wants a base to stave off Russia

President Obama visitUS support since Estonia independence

Important player in international politicsFocal point of conflict

Cyber Security

Cyber Security: Cyber War I

May 2007 cyber attack

April 2007 Removal of monumentMonument dedicated to Soldiers of Soviet Union

Fought to liberate Estonia from Nazi GermanyLed to ethnic-Russian feelings of alienationEthnic Estonians saw monument as the Unknown-

RapistSymbol of invasive Soviet presence WWII-1994

Tensions around Russian control of gas supplies

Cyber Security: Cyber War I

Mass protests and riots in Tallinn

Estonian embassy in Moscow blockaded

Riots ended, cyber-attacks began

“Hacktivists”Propaganda aimed at political parties and

government officialsTargeting infrastructure

Overloaded systems associated with banking and infrastructure

Sophistication indicates state-sponsorship

Cyber Security: Cyber War I

Attacks lasted 3 weeks

Minimal permanent damage

Disruptive force of cyber-attacks made known

Cyber Security: Post Cyber Conflict

Pursuit of options to reduce vulnerabilities

Continued improvement with relationship with EU and NATO

Russian Federation may consider cyber war a failureMay have been catalyst for increased NATO

presence in Baltic Region

Leadership role in cyber-war theory, cyber-defense, and cyber-security within NATO

Cyber Security: Post Cyber Conflict

Current NATO plans seek to build NATO cyber security center in Estonia

Current tensions between Estonia and Russia as mini Cold WarEstonia claims against Russia for agitating

Russian-speaking Estonians Increase in Russian spies in Estonia?Russian concerns treatment of Russian population

in Estonia

ImplicationsWWI result of alliances intended to prevent war

Instead, inflated conflict

Estonian tendency to separate society by nationalitySegregation peaceful co-existence? cause of

prejudice and mistrust?

Political, economic, religious, and educational aspects of domestic relations create and reinforce narratives, and identities

ImplicationsCitizens’ perceptions critical to internal stability

Estonia actively seeking to distance from Soviet history Increasing ties with European powersPromoting nationalism at expense of Russian-

speaking population

Growing anti-Estonian sentiment in Russian-speaking population indicates need for a more inclusive sentiment in Estonian society

ImplicationsFactors contribute to situation similar to causes

of WWI

Further disenfranchised Russian-speaking population could be catalyst to international calamity

World leaders need to keep these similarities in mind as they devise strategies to address these problems

Questions?

Contact us: estoniaic@gmail.com