History at the Crossroads. Dealing with the Past in Estonia.
JÄRÄ, HANNA (2000)
Tässä tietueessa ei ole kokotekstiä saatavilla Treposta, ainoastaan metadata.
JÄRÄ, HANNA
2000
Valtio-oppi - Political Science
Yhteiskuntatieteellinen tiedekunta - Faculty of Social Sciences
Hyväksymispäivämäärä
2000-02-02Tiivistelmä
The question of how to face the past after extensive political
violence is a fundamental question facing countries moving from
authoritarianism to democracy, since the ways and rules by which
post-communist countries deal with their past are likely to have
weighty consequences for their future development. The possible
means of dealing with the past range from approaches that favour
prosecution to models that aim at promoting truth and reconciliation.
The starting point of this study is to assume that the process of
dealing with the past must be viewed within the context of present
circumstances as well as historical experiences in specific countries. This complexity of coming to terms with the past is addressed with particular reference to the Estonian case.
The study is concerned with the way the Estonian approach
towards its communist past has been influenced by the dynamics of
transition as well as the political and social circumstances of the
country. In addition, the impact of historical context and structural
conditions are also discussed.
The topic of the study is addressed through the following questions:
1. How have political, structural and historical conditions influenced
Estonian strategies of dealing with the past?
2. How are these solutions explained, and what kind of arguments have
been presented in public?
3. How has the approach been modified over time and what kind of
justifications have been used to support the change?
At the basis of this study lies an assumption of a certain linkage
between the way in which the past is dealt with and practical political
considerations. This means that the past is modified according to
practical political requirements and thus the past is presented and
confronted as a purpose to enhance certain current political aims.
Accordingly, the process of dealing with the past can be viewed as an
attempt to promote certain political state of affairs and the practical
organising of political or historical matters.
The approach of this study is text-based and methodologically
most closely linked to the qualitative study of politics. In addition,
the narrative approach is used particularly in the first empirical
section of the study. The study tries to provide an interpretation of
the political and historical preconditions that have contributed to
the ways Estonia has faced its past. Specific attention is paid to
the construction of Estonian history as a politically purposeful
account of historical events. It is presumed that the process of
dealing with the past is often validated by invoking practical
political interpretations of the past.
violence is a fundamental question facing countries moving from
authoritarianism to democracy, since the ways and rules by which
post-communist countries deal with their past are likely to have
weighty consequences for their future development. The possible
means of dealing with the past range from approaches that favour
prosecution to models that aim at promoting truth and reconciliation.
The starting point of this study is to assume that the process of
dealing with the past must be viewed within the context of present
circumstances as well as historical experiences in specific countries. This complexity of coming to terms with the past is addressed with particular reference to the Estonian case.
The study is concerned with the way the Estonian approach
towards its communist past has been influenced by the dynamics of
transition as well as the political and social circumstances of the
country. In addition, the impact of historical context and structural
conditions are also discussed.
The topic of the study is addressed through the following questions:
1. How have political, structural and historical conditions influenced
Estonian strategies of dealing with the past?
2. How are these solutions explained, and what kind of arguments have
been presented in public?
3. How has the approach been modified over time and what kind of
justifications have been used to support the change?
At the basis of this study lies an assumption of a certain linkage
between the way in which the past is dealt with and practical political
considerations. This means that the past is modified according to
practical political requirements and thus the past is presented and
confronted as a purpose to enhance certain current political aims.
Accordingly, the process of dealing with the past can be viewed as an
attempt to promote certain political state of affairs and the practical
organising of political or historical matters.
The approach of this study is text-based and methodologically
most closely linked to the qualitative study of politics. In addition,
the narrative approach is used particularly in the first empirical
section of the study. The study tries to provide an interpretation of
the political and historical preconditions that have contributed to
the ways Estonia has faced its past. Specific attention is paid to
the construction of Estonian history as a politically purposeful
account of historical events. It is presumed that the process of
dealing with the past is often validated by invoking practical
political interpretations of the past.