Opinion articles by Estonian and global opinion leaders
We need to engage in a calm and sober debate on whether or not and how Russia threatens us and on the real meaning of its vicinity and our common history to us. Estonia is a quite good place for discussions on foreign policy, I think. (In their own way, one hundred issues of Diplomaatia […]
Kadri Liik: Let us think again. About Russia… Read More »
“Second Survey Shows Public Less Confident in Cabinet” was the recent headline on the news site of the Estonian Public Broadcasting (news.err.ee) and indeed, the numbers do show a worrying downward trend when it comes to trust in the Estonian government and parliament. The numbers in question are those of Eurobarometer, an organisation that has
Chris Glew: Never mind the present, the future is bright Read More »
Recently EstonianWorld’s co-author Chris Glew interviewed British Liberal Democratic Member of Parliament Sir Malcolm Bruce about his views on Estonia’s position in the wider world. There was one comment by Sir Malcolm that particularly struck me as being rather unintentionally controversial but controversial nevertheless. First of all he said that Estonia ought to be referred
Adam Garrie: Modern Europe and political geography Read More »
After Iceland, Estonia is the second European country to engage in a radically novel democratic experiment. Against growing contempt for out of touch political elites, Estonian civil society is betting on crowdsourced constitutional reform. Charter 12 is an Estonian citizens’ initiative, signed by seventeen prominent public figures (mostly academics and thinkers), calling for greater democratic
Charter 12 – Estonia’s stab at direct democracy Read More »
Chris Glew argues that Estonia needs a different voting system – as currently, there’s a lack of a direct link between the voter and the MP.* For those unaware, Estonia’s method of electing its parliamentarians is the d’Hondt method of proportional representation. The country is divided into 12 regions, each selecting between six and 13
Chris Glew: Estonia’s problem is the voting system Read More »
Russia is poised to gain technical superiority over NATO in areas that are crucial to the defence of the Baltic states. Scandinavian defence pundits are a sober bunch. But the latest report by the Swedish Defence Research Agency is a gripping read. Its 115 pages offer the first comprehensive and unclassified look at Europe’s biggest
Edward Lucas: The Baltic states – defending the least defensible? Read More »
Dear Estonian World readers and followers, First of all, on behalf of the Estonian World team, I would like to take this opportunity and thank again everyone who has become our reader and follower in last four months, since we started. Estonian World was established by few like-minded Estonians living abroad, the main team being
Letter from the editor: Why Estonian World? Read More »
Last week, some very well known Estonian intellectuals and public figures issued a petition called Harta 12 (Charter 12). The petition came about in the light of recent allegedly murky dealings, where the governing Reform Party received large amounts of donations in cash. The authors of Charter 12 allege that those currently holding power in
Adam Garrie: The Vagueness of Charter 12 Read More »
U.S. Secretary of State Dean Acheson once said that having lost an empire, Britain is looking for a role. Today, something similar could be said about the United States. Having shed its briefly held status as the world’s single “hyperpower,” the U.S. is now looking for a role in the world. It is not alone
US presidential elections and Estonia – what’s the impact? Read More »
It is bitterly ironic that the Russian Federation, a country whose courts have just imprisoned several young women under the guise of protecting a religious institution and religious sensibilities, is a vastly more robust supporter of secularism in the Middle East than is Estonia. Less than two weeks ago, Urmas Paet (Estonian foreign minister) called for
Adam Garrie: Why a secular Syria is good for Estonia Read More »
