(Re)Construction of Collective Identities after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The Case of Estonia

Vihalemm, Triin; Masso, Anu

doi:10.1080/00905990601124496

Cited by 30 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 16 publications

(7 reference statements)

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“…7 The Nordic identity that is these days so important to the Estonians is confirmed by various empirical studies (see e.g. Vihalemm, Masso 2007) and it is among other things based on the recollections of the Swedish rule that was culturally productive for Estonia.…”

Section: Language and Space In A Post-transition Countrymentioning

confidence: 80%

“…Besides the Scandinavian countries, one of the main (travel) destinations was also Germany (see e.g. Vihalemm 2007, Masso 2008) -a country carrying a positive connotation in historical memory where the Estonians could enjoy western consumer culture. The importance of Nordic countries as a strong spatial alternative can be explained by both cultural closeness and historical memory.…”

Section: Language and Space In A Post-transition Countrymentioning

confidence: 99%

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About the Linguistic Constitution of Social Space: The Case of Estonia

Masso¹,

Tender²

2008

Trames

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The article uses a theory of social space by Henri Lefebvre and is based on the assumption that analysing motivations for foreign language learning could help to understand the changes in social space. Using Estonia as an empirical example we are arguing that the country is moving from a transitional phase of social space to a posttransitional phase, i.e. the fast changes in language learning motivations and curricula, as well as the increasing number of personal or mediated contacts with different countries are replaced by a relative 'calming down' of social space, where the individual relationships with the geo-cultural world are developing. Using qualitative in-depth interviews as the empirical basis, the analysis found four different individual linguistic-spatial strategiesspatial production based on unchanging morphologies; spatial production based on historical and power connotations; spatial production based on connotations of consumerism and spatial production based on cultural meanings. In our opinion, the last strategy supports social change most positively. Taking into account the importance of the consumerist and spatial meanings of language, we believe that these aspects should be taken into account in developing language policies.

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Section: Language and Space In A Post-transition Countrymentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Language and Space In A Post-transition Countrymentioning

confidence: 99%

About the Linguistic Constitution of Social Space: The Case of Estonia

Masso¹,

Tender²

2008

Trames

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“…Due to globalization, greater amount of choices is available and this is enriching on the individual level, but destroying diversity on the national (Cowen 2004). The opening up of the geo-cultural space of Estonia has created a supra-national, global pattern of self-designation (Vihalemm, Masso 2007). But on the other hand, there is a possibility that thanks to the integration into a space of global flows ('logic of space of flows') a sense of (national) rootedness ('logic of space of places') gains its momentum in progressive terms (Antonsich 2009).…”

Section: Postmodern Landscapes (1991-)mentioning

confidence: 98%

Re-Scaling Landscape. Re-Scaling Identity / Keičiant Kraštovaizdį, Keičiama Tapatybė

Sulina

2012

Mokslas - Lietuvos Ateitis

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To understand the bonds cultural groups living in Estonia have with their cultural landscape and why they identify themselves with a particular territory (region), the general process of presenting the landscape role in their identity needs to be analysed. Scales of landscape and regional identity of cultural groups are examined as belonging to different historical social formation periods, including nowadays, also taking into account the identity and physical setting relationship, as well as the results of questionnaires and previous studies. The tendency is that becoming more open the society is influenced by globalisation, new technologies and freedom of movement, tbus changing both the identities and landscapes scales.

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“…8 Research indicates that so-called "ethnization" is dominating in the collective selfdetermination of the Russian-speaking population, the orientation of localization is also significant, and the diasporic orientation (orientation to Russia) is less evident. 9 Although Russian television dominates the media consumption of the Russian-speaking population, it is forming a culturally distinctive local hybrid identity rather than a diasporic orientation. 10 This article continues the discussion about the development of the identity of the Russian minority, focusing the analysis on general thinking patterns and identity structures of the majority and the minority groups and presuming that Estonia's rapid inclusion in the EU and the general global technological and cultural space have created a specific environment of symbols and values peculiar to a transition society and have formed the basis for new collective identities.…”

Section: Empirical and Theoretical Background Of The Studymentioning

confidence: 99%

Crystallizing and Emancipating Identities in Post-Communist Estonia

Vihalemm¹

2007

Natl. pap.

Self Cite

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This article concerns collective identities in the context of EU enlargement and the post-Soviet transition of Estonian society, particularly of the two main ethno-linguistic groups: ethnic Estonians and the Russian-speaking population in Estonia. The empirical basis of the study is formed by factor structures of self-identification. The data were obtained from nationally representative surveys carried out in 2002, before Estonia joined the EU, and in 2005. The thinking patterns behind the structures of self-categorization are discussed mainly on the basis of theoretical concepts of individualization and transition culture. For background information, comparative data collected in Latvia (2006) and in Sweden (2003) are used. The survey results reveal that in the post-communist transformation, EU integration and spread of global mass culture have homogenized the mental patterns of the Estonians and the Russians. It is characteristic of post-communist Estonia that both minority and majority groups have utilized trans-national and civic identity and individualistic patterns of selfidentification in terms of (sub)culture and social and material achievement, extracted from social norms and existing structures. Surveys confirm that for political actors in both Estonia and Russia it is hardly possible any more to create a common umbrella identity for the Russians in Estonia-the self-designation patterns of the Estonian Russians have been emancipated during the transition period.The purpose of this study is to open the universalities and peculiarities of the formation of collective identities in post-communist Estonia, with special attention to the dynamics of the collective identities of the Russian minority. The cultural and political allegiances of the Russians between Russian, Western and local frames of reference have been the subject of extensive discussion. Despite the fact that during the first decade of the transition the Russian-speaking population used mainly individual adaptation strategies, researchers have proposed that social deprivation may lead to the formation of collective group consciousness and mobilization of the Russian-speaking community. 2 When discussing this issue, not only should the relations between the majority and minorities be taken into account but also the

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(Re)Construction of Collective Identities after the Dissolution of the Soviet Union: The Case of Estonia

Cited by 30 publications

References 16 publications

About the Linguistic Constitution of Social Space: The Case of Estonia

About the Linguistic Constitution of Social Space: The Case of Estonia

Re-Scaling Landscape. Re-Scaling Identity / Keičiant Kraštovaizdį, Keičiama Tapatybė

Crystallizing and Emancipating Identities in Post-Communist Estonia

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