Project Description: Migration, Ethnic Minorities, and
International Relations in Post-Soviet Contexts: The Case of Estonia
Start Date: Oct. 1995
End Date: July 1999
Project Description: The project looks at the role of ethnic
minorities in post-Soviet Estonian domestic and international
contexts. In particular, the historic developments in Estonia
while being a part of the USSR led to a high number of non-titular
inhabitants which at the time of Estonia regaining independence
in 1991 were at around 39% of the total population, most of
whom (28% of the total) were ethnic Russians. The projects looks
at Estonian domestic politics from 1991-1998 and the problems
besetting the ethnic Russians after 1991. Further, the international
level, the utilitarianisation of the ethnic Russians in the
new Russian Federation's policies vis-a-vis Estonian Foreign
Affairs, both in terms of relations with the Russian Federation
(near abroad, Great Power vestiges: influence etc.) and the
international community (esp. EU and NATO membership; also OSCE,
UNDP).
Methods Research / Field Trips: ten weeks per year in 1995,
1996 and 1997; Expert Interviews, surveys; secondary literature
and newspaper analysis
Planned Output: One major monograph on the specific topic and
on a political history of Estonia 1918-1998, respectively. Some
journal articles on the topic are either commissioned or in
the pipeline. Several key aspects have been highlighted at various
European conferences in 1997 and 1998, and will be further in
1999.
Supervisors: 1. Professor Dr. Klaus J. Bade, Professor of Modern
History, Director, Institute for Migration Research and Intercultural
Studies (IMIS), University of Osnabrück, 2. Professor Dr. Gerhard
W. Simon,Professor of East European History,Academic Director,
Federal Institute for East European and International Studies
(BIOst)
External Partners: Research has been conducted at BIOst Cologne,
SIPRI Stockholm, et al.; Various institutions GO, NGO, IGOS
in Estonia (e.g., OSCE, UNDP) or elsewhere.
Funding Organisation: The research has been funded by the Deutsche
Forschungsgemeinschaft within the Graduates' College on Migration
in Modern Europe (1995-1998) at IMIS, Univ. of Osnabrück.
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