Nature and ICT (Information and Communication Technology) are two key phrases that often appear in narratives around Estonia. In our visit to Tallinn University, we explored the background of these concepts.
A Forest Nation?
“The love of nature has been part of Estonian identity,” says Karsten Brüggemann, professor of Estonian and general history at Tallinn University. According to Ministry of the Environment stressing the value of the forest “as a part of Estonian culture,” forests cover more than half of the mainland of Estonia [1]. The forest and the establishment of Estonia is tightly connected. Since its incorporation into Soviet Union in 1940, the northeast part of Estonia experienced an investment of the heavy industry and mining, which triggered immigration of workers from Russia [2]. While Russians accounted for 8.2% of the population in Estonia in 1934, they comprised 30.3% of the population by 1989 [3]. This led to the association of industrial pollution and the growth of Russian population in Estonia. The culmination of combined concerns over the environment and the national identity was Phosphorite War in 1987, an environmental campaign against plans to extend the phosphorite mining [4]. Having established the concept ‘Estonia as a forest nation,’ Phosphorite War is considered to be the forerunner of the movement for independence marked by the formation of Estonian Popular Front in 1988 [5].
The forest of Palupõhja (February 22, 2023)
E-Estonia – “The World’s Most Advanced Digital Society”
In the 21st century, Estonia is widely recognized as the country of technology. From 2000 onward, the Estonian government made public services from tax declaration, voting, to healthcare available online [6]. The initiative to digitalize public services is entitled E-Estonia, whose website describes Estonia as “the world's most advanced digital society” [7]. At Riigikogu 2023 elections, more than half of the ballots were e-votes [8]. More than 100,000 individuals have registered for e-residence, the digital identification issued by the Estonian government for people across the world since 2014 [9]. Estonia’s advancement in information technology is internationally recognized. The country report published by European Commission in 2022 descried Estonia as “a strong EU frontrunner” [10] in its digital public services.
The Future of the Eco-digital
“One could say that ‘eco-digital’ could be seen as the nation’s new ideal,” says Piret Viires, Professor of Estonian literature and literary theory at Tallinn University. The Estonian government has announced to shift sources of all energy consumed in the country into renewable ones by 2030 [11]. This goal sheds light on the development of green technologies. In 2022, the Estonian Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications published a report with Ernst & Young titled “Analysis of the Current Status of and Possibilities Regarding Green Digital Government.” Policy recommendations announced in this report include the development of a financing model to support green ICT choices [12]. With the combination of the two values – nature and ICT – will Estonia lead green technologies?
Find Your Definition of ‘Estonian-ness’
“Perhaps you can find your definition of ‘Estonian-ness’ by studying with us,” says Professor Viires. Tallinn University offers a program for people who aspire to study various aspects of Estonia. Estonian Studies is an English-taught MA program where students spend two years learning the language, culture, history, and society of Estonia [13]. By graduation, students are expected to enhance their Estonian to B1 level.
A visit to Tallinn University (February 21st, 2023)
Acknowledgement
We thank Karsten Brüggemann, professor at School of Humanities, Tallinn University for coordinating our visit to the university. We also thank the following scholars at School of Humanities, Tallinn University: Alari Allik (associate professor), Piret Viires (professor), and Ulrike Plath (professor).
Notes
Republic of Estonia Ministry of the Environment, “Forestry,” Republic of Estonia Ministry of the Environment, last modified July 13, 2021, https://envir.ee/en/water-forest-resources/forestry.
Nick Manning, “Patterns of Environmental Movements in Eastern Europe,” Environmental Politics 7, no. 2 (1998): 100-33, accessed March 8, 2023, doi: 10.1080/09644019808414395, 102.
Republic of Estonia Ministry of Education and Research, Language Education Policy Profile: Country Report Estonia (Tartu, 2008), https://rm.coe.int/language-education-policy-profile-estonia-country-report/16807b3b48, 12.
Atko Remmel and Tõnno Jonuks, “From Nature Romanticism to Eco-nationalism: The Development of the Concept of Estonians as a Forest Nation,” Electronic Journal of Folklore 81 (2021) 33-62, accessed March 8, 2023, doi: 10.7592/FEJF2021.81.remmel_jonuksRemmel, 45.
Nick Manning, “Patterns of Environmental Movements in Eastern Europe,” Environmental Politics 7, no. 2 (1998): 100-33, accessed March 8, 2023, doi: 10.1080/09644019808414395, 105.
E-Estonia, “Story,” E-Estonia, accessed March 8, 2023, https://e-estonia.com/story/.
Ibid.
ERR News, "Estonia sets new e-voting record at Riigikogu 2023 elections," ERR News, last modified March 3, 2023, https://news.err.ee/1608904730/estonia-sets-new-w-voting-record-at-riigikogu-2023-elections.
Republic of Estonia E-residency, “E-residency in Numbers,” E-residency, last modified February 22, 2023, https://www.e-resident.gov.ee/dashboard.
European Commission, Estonia: 2022 Country Report (Brussels, 2022), https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2022-05/2022-european-semester-country-report-estonia_en.pdf, 4.
Harry Tuul, “Estonia to Use 100% Renewable Energy by 2030,” Invest in Estonia, October 2022, https://investinestonia.com/estonia-to-use-100-renewable-energy-by-2030/.
Republic of Estonia Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications and Ernst & Young, Analysis of the Current Status of and Possibilities Regarding Green Digital Government (May 2022), https://e-estonia.com/wp-content/uploads/green_digital_analysis_english.pdf, 8.
For details, refer to “Estonian Studies” in Tallinn University School of Humanities, https://www.tlu.ee/en/estonian-studies.