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Aksel Kirch, Tarmo Tuisk, Hanna-Hulda Reinkort

Etics, Emics, Estonians and Russians in Contemporary Estonia: Is the Past still Dominating the Present?. Aksel Kirch, Tarmo Tuisk, Hanna-Hulda Reinkort. Presentation at IACCP Congress 27-31 July, 2008 Bremen, Germany. Background. 1918 Republic of Estonia 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact

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Aksel Kirch, Tarmo Tuisk, Hanna-Hulda Reinkort

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  1. Etics, Emics, Estonians and Russians in Contemporary Estonia:Is the Past still Dominating the Present? Aksel Kirch, Tarmo Tuisk, Hanna-Hulda Reinkort Presentation at IACCP Congress 27-31 July, 2008 Bremen, Germany

  2. Background • 1918 Republic of Estonia • 1939 Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact • 1940 Start of the Soviet occupation • 1941-1945 World War II • 1991 Estonia regained independence • 2004 EU membership of Estonia • 2007 ‘Bronze Soldier’ related events in Tallinn

  3. Research Method • Identity Structure Analysis (ISA) • Developed by Prof. Peter Weinreich (University of Ulster) • Targeted (also) for cross-cultural studies • Consists of etic and emic parameters • Etic – cross-cultural universals • Emic – reflecting qualities of local cultures

  4. Main Definitions • ISA is an open-ended conceptual framework, which can be used to explore individual or group identities within particular socio-cultural and historical contexts. It is thus primarily concerned with the ‘individual and societal phenomena’ within which issues of identity are implicated. • Definition of identity: A person’s identity is defined as the totality of one’s self-construal, in which how one construes oneself in the present expresses the continuity between how one construes oneself as one was in the past and how one construes oneself as one aspires to be in the future. (Weinreich&Saunderson, 2003, 26)

  5. The Sample and the Instrument • The method is applicable between relatively homogenous groups (e.g. Estonian and Russian students of the International University Audentes) • 54 Estonians and 46 Russians were questioned in February 2008 at the IUA • Each respondent filled a questionnaire that consisted of 11 rating sheets placing him/herself into 10 different positions (e.g. significant others).

  6. Significant Issues • The symbols and connotation of World War II in the case of both ethnic groups were tested • The influence of Russia’s media for Estonian Russians • The role of Estonian language in the integration process • Estonia’s fast economic development was questioned • Government as a responsible body for economic well-being was opposed to personal efforts of every person • Are there differences between Estonians and Russians noticeable?

  7. Idealistic Identification with Others Index value is high when above 0.70 and low when below 0.50

  8. Contra-Identification with Others Index value is high when above 0.45 and low when below 0.25

  9. Empathetic Identification with Others Index value is high when above 0.70 and low when below 0.50

  10. Conflicted Identification The index value is moderate from 0.20 to 0.35, and high when between 0.35 and 0.50. Estonians and Russians bothhave high conflicted identification with entity ‘Estonian Russians’.

  11. Identity Diffusion Identity diffusion is considered to be the dispersion of conflicted identifications with others, where the greater the magnitude of identification conflicts and the more extensive their dispersion across others, the more severe is the diffusion (Weinreich, 2003:64). When we combine self-evaluation with identity diffusion, 9 identity variants result.

  12. Identity Variants

  13. Constructs used for Group Typologies

  14. Group Typology I

  15. Group Typology II

  16. Conclusions • The April 2007 events have “facilitated” Estonians to mobilise themselves politically to protect the Republic of Estonia after 16 years break • Russian media, Russia’s hostility towards neighbours and history of World War II still stay somewhere in the minds of Estonians of not letting to forget the past. • For Russians it is clear that the integration mechanism is going to be via Estonian language and culture and convergence in values with Estonians is taking place. • At the same time significant symbols as the ‘Bronze Soldier’ have still their role in Russians’ memories and attitudes that cause conflicted identifications leading to high identity diffusion that restricts smooth integration process.

  17. Conclusions • The authors would like to emphasise that the events of April 2007 do not reflect any kind of ethnic conflict between Estonians and Russians, the contradictions base largely on different cultures having different historical background related to World War II.

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