The Scandinavian Connection in Early Estonian Nationalism

Abstract

This article outlines the context and genesis of the idea of a Scandinavian-Estonian connection in early Estonian nationalism. Mnemopolitical (the role of the myth of ‘the good old Swedish times’) and geopolitical (Sweden understood as an alternative regional power to Germany and Russia) aspects of Estonian nationalism's engagement with Scandinavia are considered as factors that produced and reinforced this image of Nordic identity that has remained a persistent part of Estonian nationalist discourse.

Keywords:

• History of Estonia
• Scandinavia
• nationalism
• geopolitics

Notes

Notes

1 The designations ‘sub-national’, ‘supra-national’ and ‘trans-national’ can also be used, but I will refrain from using them in order to avoid confusion. For an example of such typology in use, see Keating 2005, p. 53.

2 My rationale behind coining a new term (‘mnemopolitics’) instead of resorting to the perhaps more familiar ‘memory politics’ is to emphasize the symmetry between the mnemopolitical and geopolitical aspects of national identity already on the level of word construction.

3 Politisches Archiv des Auswärtiges Amtes Wk, 11c, secr. Bd., 1, l. 113.

4 Robert Henry Clive. Memorandum Recording Interview with Mr. Kesküla, Stockholm, May, 1917. Public Record Office in London (The War. Sweden. Russia).

5 Suomen Kansallisarkisto 602: 220 Herman Gummeruksen kokoelma, 51.