Constructing Historical Space: Estonia’s Transition from the Russian Civilization to the Baltic Sea Region

Abstract

Time and space serve as key identity markers of a nation. This article focuses on the construction of historical space in Estonian history textbooks. The aim of this analysis is to follow the trajectory of post-Soviet understanding of Estonia’s location on the European map. Rejecting the Soviet idea that Estonia belongs to the Russian Civilization, the post-Soviet Estonian national elite has offered the Baltic Sea region as a plausible alternative regional identity. The present analysis suggests that the last two decades are marked by an increasing tendency in Estonian history textbooks to present the Baltic Sea region as the nation’s historical space.

Keywords:

• Estonian national memory
• historical space
• regional identity
• Baltic Sea region
• analysis of textbooks

Notes

1 For a detailed overview of the Soviet Estonian master narrative and the differences between Soviet and post-Soviet Estonian narratives, see Pääbo 2011b.

2 This estimation is made based on a survey made by the Ministry of Education among Estonian history teachers (2004).

3 The University of Tartu historians wrote the following textbooks: Arjakas et al. (1991); Mäesalu et al. and Laur et al. ([1995] 1997); Mäesalu et al. (2005); and Pajur, Tannberg (2006); Kriiska et al. 2006. The Tallinn University historians wrote the following textbooks: Adamson and Valdmaa [1999] 2001; Adamson and Karjahärm 2004. Only J. Sarapuu’s textbook does not belong in any of these categories.

4 M. Wulf and P. Grönholm (2010) provide a thorough analysis of different generations of Estonian historians and their involvement in politics, defining them as Estonian memory agents. Moreover, M. Tamm (2008, 505) claims that the re-established Estonian republic was a “Republic of Historians”.

5 Here and later, the author’s own translation: “Meie esivanemad rändasid siia mitmest ilmakaarest ja eri aegadel, ent eestlasteks saime siin, sellel tuulisel maatükil Läänemere kaldal.”

6 In English, there is no significant difference between these two terms, but in Estonian they have strong semantic connotations: “Baltic” (Balti in Estonian) refers narrowly to the Baltic states area, “Baltic Sea” (Läänemere in Estonian) is a broader term that refers to the entire Baltic Sea region.

7 Teisalt lülitati Eesti vallutuse ja ristiusustamise tulemusena Lääne-Euroopasse. Eestile laienes Õhtumaa kultuurimõju ja, selle õiguslikud normid ja ühiskonnastruktuur. Lääne-Euroopa ja Venemaa vaheline piir kooksis nüüd mööda Narva jõge ka Peipsi järve.

8 All textbooks, except Mäesalu et al. (2005), claim that Estonian vocabulary related to Christianity is of Slavic origin. The 2005 textbook states that this theory has recently been seriously questioned (Mäesalu et al. 2005, 41).

9 Viiking polnud rahvus, vaid amet – midagi meresõitja, kaupmehe, sõdalase ja röövli vahepealset. Oli ka eestlastest viikingeid.