estonia: a study of intercultural communication issues by: cierra wallace jeff cobb susan calhoun...
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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
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 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 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 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
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