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Estonian nationalism refers to the ideological movement for attaining and maintaining identity, unity, freedom and independence on behalf of a population deemed by many, or most, of its members to be the Estonian people, having one Estonian homeland – Estonia, sharing the common Estonian culture, as well as ancestral myths and memories, a common economy and common legal rights and duties for all members.^[1]

Emergence of Estonian national identity in the 19th century

Estonian nationalism emerged in the first half of the 19th century, in large part a result of the activities of the Estophile movement of the late 18th to early 19th century, when local Baltic German scholars, influenced by the European Enlightenment,^[2] began documenting and promoting the culture and the language of Estonian farmers.

Early Estonian nationalism grew into a strong popular movement and a distinct Estonian national identity began to emerge in the mid-19th century as a result of the "Estonian national awakening" and the people's rapidly increasing access to Estonian-language newspapers, cultural activities and secondary education.^[3]

A prominent figure in Estonian nationalism was Carl Robert Jakobson. During the late 19th century, Jakobson made significant financial contributions to the promotion of Estonian-language printed media and education. He was one of the main sponsors of the Estonian Alexander School.^[4] Politically, however, Jakobson was often misunderstood as well as misrepresented by opponents and, whilst popular among the farmers, he could find only very limited support among other parts of the wider population of Estonia.^[5]

Another prominent figure in the history Estonian nationalism was the poet Lydia Koidula, who voiced the ideas for an independent and sovereign Estonia already in the 19th century. Her collection of poetry Emajõe ööbik became the country's second most widely printed book (after the Bible), and in the beginning of 20th century almost every household in Estonia had a copy of it. She became a unique personified symbol of the Estonians' cultural revival and national awareness.

The Estonian nationalist movement eventually, after the 1917 collapse of the Russian Empire, led to the Estonian Declaration of Independence and the foundation of the independent democratic Republic of Estonia in 1918.^[6] On February 24, 1918, the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed and secured its independence in the following Estonian War of Independence of 1918-1920. In June 1940, Estonia was invaded and occupied by the Stalinist Soviet Union, introducing a totalitarian state and a terror regime. With the outbreak of war between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union in 1941, many nationalists in Estonia thought that they would have an opportunity to create an independent country once again, and collaborated with the German occupation administration and military units. However, the German treatment of the local population quickly put an end to this.^[7]

The "Forest Brethren" was a loose set of Estonian nationalist guerilla units that first took up arms against the Red Army and against the Soviet occupation authorities in 1941, and followed their armed resistance after the 1944 Soviet reconquest of Estonia. The Estonian anti-Soviet guerillas were not exclusively ethnic Estonians, but included also Ingrians, Latvians, Russians, and Jews.^[8] For several years after World War II, the Estonian nationalist guerilla fighters directed their military actions against the Stalinist Soviet regime in Estonia. Many members of these nationalist units saw themselves as the armed wing of the Estonian people in its struggle for Estonian independence.^[9]

Estonian Forest Brethren maintain a prominent and symbolic role in Estonian history and the quest for Estonian independence.^[10] They have been deemed as illegal insurgents or terrorist groups by the former Soviet and current Russian historiography.^[10]

Ideas of Estonia having a Nordic identity have been part of Estonian nationalist discourse.^[11]

Singing Revolution

From 1987, Estonian nationalism emerged in form of many spontaneous non-violent mass demonstrations that ultimately led Estonia to regain its full independence in August 1991. Similar events took place in Latvia and Lithuania.

Estonian nationalism in the 21st century

Currently, parties identifying strictly as nationalist are the Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) and the Estonian Independence Party.

One of the most significant expressions of Estonian nationalism is still the Estonian Song Festival, one of the largest amateur choral events in the world that is held every five years in July.^{[citation needed]}

After the 2019 Estonian parliamentary election the ethnic-nationalist party EKRE entered into a coalition government for the first time.

References

^ Raun, Toivo U. (January 2003). "Nineteenth and early twentieth century Estonian nationalism revisited". Nations and Nationalism. 9 (1). Wiley: 129–147. doi:10.1111/1469-8219.00078.
^ Suny, Ronald Grigor (1993). The Revenge of the Past: Nationalism, Revolution, and the Collapse of the Soviet Union. Stanford University Press. p. 52. ISBN 9780804779265.
^ Miljan, Toivo (2004). Historical Dictionary of Estonia. Scarecrow Press. p. 178. ISBN 9780810865716.
^ Jakobson, Carl Robert^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Bonne Luck Aulik, "Estonia's emerging nationalism and cultural independence", Drew University, 1994, p. 164
^ ^{[permanent dead link]}
^ Estonia - Encyclopedia.com
^ Estonian partisans^{[permanent dead link]}
^ The Estonian partisans - - www.estonianpartisans.com.ee^{[permanent dead link]}
^ ^a ^b Wilson, Andrew. Estonian Nationalism in the 1990s: A Minority Faith. Cambridge University Press. London: 1997. 51.
^ Kuldkepp, Mart (2013). "The Scandinavian Connection in Early Estonian Nationalism". Journal of Baltic Studies. 44 (3): 313–338. doi:10.1080/01629778.2012.744911. ISSN 0162-9778.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Short description|Overview of Estonian nationalism}}
-{{History of Estonia}}
+[[File:Flag of Estonia.svg|thumb|300px|The [[Flag of Estonia|Estonian Flag]].]]{{History of Estonia}}'''Estonian nationalism''' refers to the ideological movement for attaining and maintaining identity, unity, freedom and independence on behalf of a population deemed by many, or most, of its members to be the [[Estonians|Estonian people]], having one Estonian homeland – [[Estonia]], sharing the common [[Estonian culture]], as well as ancestral myths and memories, a common economy and common legal rights and duties for all members.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Raun|first=Toivo U.|date=January 2003|title=Nineteenth and early twentieth century Estonian nationalism revisited|journal=Nations and Nationalism|publisher=Wiley|volume=9|issue=1|pages=129–147|doi=10.1111/1469-8219.00078}}</ref>
-[[File:Flag of Estonia.svg|thumb|300px|The [[Flag of Estonia|Estonian Flag]].]]
-'''Estonian nationalism''' refers to the ideological movement for attaining and maintaining identity, unity and autonomy on behalf of a population deemed by some of its members to constitute an [[Estonian culture|Estonian cultural]] unit of population with a separate homeland, shared ancestral myths and memories, a public culture, common economy and common legal rights and duties for all members.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Raun|first=Toivo U.|date=January 2003|title=Nineteenth and early twentieth century Estonian nationalism revisited|journal=Nations and Nationalism|publisher=Wiley|volume=9|issue=1|pages=129–147|doi=10.1111/1469-8219.00078}}</ref>
-==Emergence of Estonian National identity in the 19th century==
+==Emergence of Estonian national identity in the 19th century==
-Estonian nationalism arose relatively late, when German pastors influenced by the [[European Enlightenment]] started to explore the culture of the Estonian peasantry.<ref name="Suny">{{cite book|last=Suny|first=Ronald Grigor|title=The Revenge of the Past: Nationalism, Revolution, and the Collapse of the Soviet Union|year=1993|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=9780804779265|page=52}}</ref>  It grew into a strong popular cultural movement in the second half of the 19th century through the increasing access to education.<ref name="Miljan">{{cite book|last=Miljan|first=Toivo|title=Historical Dictionary of Estonia|year=2004|publisher= Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810865716|page=178}}</ref>
+Estonian nationalism emerged in the first half of the 19th century, in large part a result of the activities of the [[Estophilia|Estophile movement]] of the late 18th to early 19th century, when local [[Baltic Germans|Baltic German]] scholars, influenced by the [[European Enlightenment]],<ref name="Suny">{{cite book|last=Suny|first=Ronald Grigor|title=The Revenge of the Past: Nationalism, Revolution, and the Collapse of the Soviet Union|year=1993|publisher=Stanford University Press|isbn=9780804779265|page=52}}</ref> began documenting and promoting the culture and the [[Estonian language|language]] of Estonian farmers.
+Early Estonian nationalism grew into a strong popular movement and a distinct Estonian national identity began to emerge in the mid-19th century as a result of the "[[Estonian national awakening]]" and the people's rapidly increasing access to Estonian-language newspapers, cultural activities and secondary education.<ref name="Miljan">{{cite book|last=Miljan|first=Toivo|title=Historical Dictionary of Estonia|year=2004|publisher= Scarecrow Press|isbn=9780810865716|page=178}}</ref>
-A prominent figure in Estonian nationalism is [[scribe]] [[Carl Robert Jakobson]]. During the late 19th century, Carl Robert made large financial contributions focused on the restoration of Estonian culture and history. He financed major reconstructions of the [[Estonian Alexander School]].<ref name="Jakobson, Carl Robert">[http://www.encyclopediaofEstonia.com/pages/M/A/JakobsonCarlRobert.htm Jakobson, Carl Robert<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><ref name="Jakobson, Carl Robert"/> Politically, however, Jakobson was misunderstood and misrepresented, and found little support among peasantry.<ref>Bonne Luck Aulik, "Estonia's emerging nationalism and cultural independence", [[Drew University]], 1994, p. 164</ref>
+A prominent figure in Estonian nationalism was [[Carl Robert Jakobson]]. During the late 19th century, Jakobson made significant financial contributions to the promotion of Estonian-language printed media and education. He was one of the main sponsors of the [[Estonian Alexander School]].<ref name="Jakobson, Carl Robert">[http://www.encyclopediaofEstonia.com/pages/M/A/JakobsonCarlRobert.htm Jakobson, Carl Robert<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> Politically, however, Jakobson was often misunderstood as well as misrepresented by opponents and, whilst popular among the farmers, he could find only very limited support among other parts of the wider population of Estonia.<ref>Bonne Luck Aulik, "Estonia's emerging nationalism and cultural independence", [[Drew University]], 1994, p. 164</ref>
-Another prominent figure in Estonian national history is the [[Estonians|Estonian]] poet [[Lydia Koidula]], who voiced the ideas of having an independent and sovereign Estonia in the 19th century. Lydia Koidula used poetry to inspire cultural revival to the Estonian people and strive to overthrow the injustice. Koidula died in [[Kronstadt]] on August 11, 1886, the day after [[Madeleine of Valois]]' 366th birthday. She is regarded as a national hero, not only by the citizens of Estonia, but by Estonians that live throughout the world. Her collection of poetry [[Emajõe ööbik]] was the second book almost in each Estonian household in the beginning of 20th century after the Bible. She became a symbol of the national cultural revival of [[Estonia]].
+Another prominent figure in the history Estonian nationalism was the poet [[Lydia Koidula]], who voiced the ideas for an independent and sovereign Estonia already in the 19th century. Her collection of poetry ''Emajõe ööbik'' became the country's second most widely printed book (after the Bible), and in the beginning of 20th century almost every household in Estonia had a copy of it. She became a unique personified symbol of the Estonians' cultural revival and national awareness.
+The Estonian nationalist movement eventually, after the 1917 collapse of the [[Russian Empire]], led to the [[Estonian Declaration of Independence]] and the foundation of the independent democratic [[Republic of Estonia]] in 1918.<!--
 ==Estonian nationalism in the 20th century==
@@ Line 16: / Line 19: @@
 ===World War I===
-With the collapse of the [[Russian Empire]] a political entity which encompassed political, community, cultural, and professional organizations was established in Tallinn from the initiative from the Association of the Estonian Progressionists (abbr. EPA). This entity was called the "[[Estonian Provincial Assembly]]" (Maapäev) and was headed by the historian, Artur Vallner.<ref name="Estonia - MSN Encarta">[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761573617_9/Estonia.html#p58 Estonia - MSN Encarta<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> On November 28, 1917, the Estonian Provincial Assembly declared Estonia an independent country.<ref name="Estonia - MSN Encarta"/>
+The "[[Estonian Provincial Assembly]]" ''(Maapäev)'' was established in 1917 and headed by historian Artur Vallner.<ref name="Estonia - MSN Encarta">[http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761573617_9/Estonia.html#p58 Estonia – MSN Encarta--><ref>{{Dead link|date=November 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref><!-- On November 28, 1917, the Estonian Provincial Assembly declared itself the holders of highest sovereign power in Estonia.<ref name="Estonia - MSN Encarta"/>
+The Estonian declaration of full independence followed in February 1918. This independence was recognized by the Soviet Russian government in the 1920 Peace Treaty of Tartu, and other countries soon thereafter.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-BrestLit.html Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - Encyclopedia.com Bot generated title]</ref> However, this government did not survive very long because of pressures not only from [[Nikolai Yudenich]]'s Russian [[White movement]], but also the [[Red Army]], German and [[Triple Entente|Entente]] intervention, and local banditism ([[Estonian Red Riflemen]] of [[Jaan Anwelt|Anwelt]]).<ref name="Estonia - MSN Encarta"/> --> On February 24, 1918, the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed and secured its independence in the following [[Estonian War of Independence]] of 1918-1920.
+<!--World War II-->
-This independence was recognized by the Russian government headed by Lenin, as well as the Central Powers and other states in 1920.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-BrestLit.html Treaty of Brest-Litovsk - Encyclopedia.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> However, this government did not survive very long because of pressures not only from [[Nikolai Yudenich]]'s Russian [[White movement]], but also the [[Red Army]], German and [[Triple Entente|Entente]] intervention, and local banditism ([[Estonian Red Riflemen]] of [[Jaan Anwelt|Anwelt]]).<ref name="Estonia - MSN Encarta"/> On February 24, 1918, the Republic of Estonia was proclaimed and secured its independence in the following [[Estonian War of Independence]] of 1918-1920.
+In June 1940, Estonia was [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|invaded and occupied]] by the [[Stalin|Stalinist]] Soviet Union, introducing a totalitarian state and a terror regime. With the outbreak of war between [[Nazi Germany]] and the Soviet Union in 1941, many nationalists in Estonia thought that they would have an opportunity to create an independent country once again, and collaborated with the German occupation administration and military units. However, the German treatment of the local population quickly put an end to this.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Estonia.html Estonia - Encyclopedia.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
-===World War II===
-The Republic of Estonia was [[Soviet occupation of the Baltic states (1940)|occupied]] in June 1940 by the Soviet Union, introducing communist rule of law and cultural norms.  With the outbreak of war between [[Nazi Germany]] and the Soviet Union in 1941, many nationalists in Estonia thought that they would have an opportunity to create an independent country once again, and collaborated with Nazi administration and military units. However, the German treatment of the local population quickly put an end to this.<ref>[http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-Estonia.html Estonia - Encyclopedia.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
-The Estonian partisans was a military group that took up arms first against the Nazis and later against the Soviets. The Estonian partisans were not only ethnic Estonians, but also [[Ingrians]], [[Latvians]], [[Russians]], and [[Jew]]s.<ref>[http://www.encyclopediaofestonia.com/pages/U/K/Estonianpartisans.htm Estonian partisans<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> During World War II, the Estonian partisans fought against the German, and Soviet forces. After the Second World War, Estonian partisans took actions directed against Soviet rule within Estonia. Many members of the Estonian partisans saw themselves as the armed wing of the Estonian people in its struggle for Estonian independence.<ref>[http://tern.estpack.net/estonianpartisans/ The Estonian partisans - - www.estonianpartisans.com.ee<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
+The "[[Forest Brethren]]" was a loose set of Estonian nationalist guerilla units that first took up arms against the [[Red Army]] and against the Soviet occupation authorities in 1941, and followed their armed resistance after the 1944 Soviet reconquest of Estonia. The Estonian anti-Soviet guerillas were not exclusively ethnic Estonians, but included also [[Ingrians]], [[Latvians]], [[Russians]], and [[Jew]]s.<ref>[http://www.encyclopediaofestonia.com/pages/U/K/Estonianpartisans.htm Estonian partisans<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> For several years after [[World War II]], the Estonian nationalist guerilla fighters directed their military actions against the Stalinist Soviet regime in Estonia. Many members of these nationalist units saw themselves as the armed wing of the Estonian people in its struggle for Estonian independence.<ref>[http://tern.estpack.net/estonianpartisans/ The Estonian partisans - - www.estonianpartisans.com.ee<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{Dead link|date=August 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes}}</ref>
-Estonian partisans maintains a prominent and symbolic role in Estonian history and the quest for Estonian independence.<ref name=Wilson>Wilson, Andrew. ''Estonian Nationalism in the 1990s: A Minority Faith''. Cambridge University Press. London: 1997. 51.</ref> At the same time it was deemed an insurgent or terrorist group by [[Soviet historiography]].<ref name=Wilson/>
+Estonian Forest Brethren maintain a prominent and symbolic role in Estonian history and the quest for Estonian independence.<ref name=Wilson>Wilson, Andrew. ''Estonian Nationalism in the 1990s: A Minority Faith''. Cambridge University Press. London: 1997. 51.</ref> They have been deemed as illegal insurgents or terrorist groups by the former Soviet and current Russian [[Soviet historiography|historiography]].<ref name=Wilson/>
+Ideas of Estonia having a [[Nordic countries|Nordic]] identity have been part of Estonian nationalist discourse.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Kuldkepp |first=Mart |date=2013 |title=The Scandinavian Connection in Early Estonian Nationalism |url=http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01629778.2012.744911 |journal=Journal of Baltic Studies |language=en |volume=44 |issue=3 |pages=313–338 |doi=10.1080/01629778.2012.744911 |issn=0162-9778}}</ref>
-[[Niall Ferguson]] writes that around 2,000 Jews and [[Romani people]] were murdered then by Estonian nationalists.<ref>Niall Ferguson, The War of the World, Penguin Press, New York 2006, page 455</ref> [[Norman Davies]] in his book "[[Europe at War 1939–1945: No Simple Victory]]" puts the number of murdered Estonian civilians at between 20,000 and 50,000.{{citation needed|date=August 2013}}
 ===Singing Revolution===
 {{Main|Singing Revolution}}
-From 1987, Estonian nationalism emerged in form of many spontaneous mass demonstrations that ultimately led Estonia to regain its independence. Similar events took place in Latvia and Lithuania.
+From 1987, Estonian nationalism emerged in form of many spontaneous non-violent mass demonstrations that ultimately led Estonia to regain its full independence in August 1991. Similar events took place in Latvia and Lithuania.
 ==Estonian nationalism in the 21st century==
-Currently, parties identifying strictly as nationalist are the [[Conservative People's Party of Estonia]](EKRE) and the [[Estonian Independence Party]].
+Currently, parties identifying strictly as nationalist are the [[Conservative People's Party of Estonia]] (EKRE) and the [[Estonian Independence Party]].
 One of the most significant expressions of Estonian nationalism is still the [[Estonian Song Festival]], one of the largest amateur choral events in the world that is held every five years in July.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}
@@ Line 42: / Line 42: @@
 ==See also==
 *[[Estonian national awakening]]
 *[[Latvian National Awakening]]
-*[[Singing Revolution]]
+*[[Finnish nationalism]]
-*[[Romantic nationalism]]
+*[[Singing Revolution]]
-*[[Russian nationalism]]
+*[[Romantic nationalism]]
+*[[Russian nationalism]]
+*[[German nationalism]]
 ==References==
@@ Line 57: / Line 59: @@
 {{Ethnic nationalism}}
-[[Category:Politics of Estonia|Nationalism]]
+[[Category:Estonian nationalism| ]]
 [[Category:Nationalist movements in Europe]]
 [[Category:Independence movements]]
-[[Category:Estonian nationalism|Estonian nationalism]]

Latest revision as of 01:38, 19 February 2024

Emergence of Estonian national identity in the 19th century

Singing Revolution

Estonian nationalism in the 21st century

See also

References

Further reading