Läänemere regiooni uuringute õppekava magistritööd – Master´s theses

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Against the thallasocracy: fascism and traditionalism in Alexander Dugin’s neo-Eurasianist philosophy
(Tartu Ülikool, 2015) Rushbrook, Jonathan; Blobaum, Robert, juhendaja; Pääbo, Heiko, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
This thesis discusses the ideological makeup of the Russian right wing philosopher Alexander Dugin. Tracing Dugin’s ideological influences from early Eurasianism, the European New Right and esoteric religious beliefs such as Perennial Traditionalism, the thesis then goes on to place Dugin’s body of thought within a larger debate on defining fascism and whether Dugin can be considered a fascist. The thesis emphasizes that Dugin’s Neo-Eurasianist imperial project disqualifies him from any typical fascist taxonomy. Instead, Neo- Eurasianism represents a genuinely unique strain of extreme right wing thought that, though shares many similarities with historic fascism, nonetheless cannot be considered fascist due to Dugin’s profoundly anti-modern vision and the supranational emphasis of his imperial objectives in which Russia plays a major role - but a role that places the Russian nation in a greater cultural, geographical, and civilizational identity. Ultimately this thesis contests some scholars’ interpretations of Dugin’s worldview as a fundamentally ethnocentric or even racist Russian nationalism. Rather, this thesis argues that Dugin holds a fundamentally religious understanding of reality that sees nations as manifestations of a spiritual, rather than a biological, essence. Thus it precludes Dugin from any purely biological racism. à la National Socialism.
Assessing the strength of parliamentary scrutiny of European affairs in the Baltic states
(Tartu Ülikool, 2013) Pukelis, Lukas; Pettai, Vello, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
Baltic sea region identity construction in political elites discourse
(Tartu Ülikool, 2013) Seyidov, Allahshukur; Morozov, Viatcheslav, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
Belarus's national narratives and representation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Belarus's history textbooks
(Tartu Ülikool, 2014) Rjaščenko, Jevgēnijs; Blobaum, Robert, juhendaja; Kasekamp, Andres, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
Master’s thesis Belarus’s National Narratives and Representation of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in Belarus’s History Textbooks in its theoretical framework excessively relies on the discussion of the existing approaches towards the study of nationalism such as the perennialist, the modernist/constructivist and the ethno-symbolist. The ethnosymbolist approach by Anthony D. Smith, however, is chosen as the most appropriate for the empirical case of Belarus’s nation-building process and therefore, its ability to explain different expressions of Belarus’s national narratives is emphasized. The thesis combines the aforementioned theoretical framework with an empirical discussion of Belarus’s post-independence nation-building process in order to explain the peculiarity of the Belarus’s case in which the official national narrative coexists with the alternative national narrative in Belarus’s public sphere. The research question, however, is centered on the problem of the Belarus’s national narrative, as outlined in Belarus’s history textbooks, and its representation of Lithuania with regard to the medieval past of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, which is shared by the both modern republics of Belarus and Lithuania. With the analysis of history textbooks, the thesis responds to concerns of some Lithuanian historians and answers the question whether the Belarus’s national narrative and the representation of Lithuania presented in the textbooks are contesting and “rewriting” the Lithuanian past in terms of their input in the creation and maintenance of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania from the mid-thirteenth century until the late eighteenth century. The aforementioned research provides an unprecedented analysis of Belarus’s history textbooks in regard to their representation of another national group during the particular period of the shared medieval past.
Borderlands between history and memory: Latgalia in mnemohistory
(Tartu Ülikool, 2015) Gibson, Catherine; Pettai, Eva-Clarita, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
This study investigates the relationship between how the past appears in collective memory, or ‘mnemohistory’ (J. Assmann 1997), and how history is recorded by historians as part of the historiographical accumulation of knowledge about the past. It argues that this distinction is important for our understanding of geographical borderlands, especially those which have been subject to numerous geopolitical border changes and where there is a divergence between what is remembered of the past in collective memory and what is recorded of the past in History. This study proposes a novel synthesis of concepts by applying Aleida Assmann’s (2011) distinction between functional memory and storage memory to borderlands in order to investigate the palimpsests-like layering of memory that occur there. Based on Aleida Assmann’s (2008a) concepts of ‘canon’ and ‘archive’, an interdisciplinary mixed methods approach to studying functional and storage memory in borderlands is developed using a combination of critical discourse analysis (CDA) of museums, qualitative survey analysis and an expert interview. This theoretical framework is applied to the case study of Latgalia in eastern Latvia, which has thus far been largely neglected in the literature. The functional memory is studied through an analysis of the historical narratives presented in three museums and the storage memory landscape is examined through an expert survey of professional historians of Latgalia and an interview. The analysis exposes key differences between the functional memory and storage memory: whereas the mnemohistory of Latgalia is largely incorporated within the framework of the Latvian national canon, professional History research represents a more diversified and transnational memory. This study highlights how the mnemohistory of borderlands is subjected to the contradictory dynamics of nationalisation and marginalisation, the ways that the past can be mobilised in both the functional and storage memory realms as part of regional identity movements, and how borderland minorities can construct and maintain narratives about the past which diverge from the national canon. The theoretical framework developed in this study can be applied to further research on mnemohistory in borderlands and border regions.
Bulldog mothers, rabid worker-bees, and white ravens: women's gender dissent in late Soviet Russia
(Tartu Ülikool, 2016) Hersh, Julie A.; Biin, Helen, juhendaja; Kay, Rebecca, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste valdkond; Tartu Ülikool. Johan Skytte poliitikauuringute instituut
This thesis conceptualizes gender dissent and explores proposed examples of it among women in late Soviet Russia. Through surveying theories of dissent/resistance and gender under a postmodernist lens, I conclude that people may use gender to dissent against political organizations and/or social norms through subverting, disobeying, and/or using for their own purposes norms of gender. In late Soviet Russia, two systems of gender norms existed, one the official order elaborated by the state and the other the societal one based more on traditional, prerevolutionary Russian values; these two orders simultaneously conflicted with, interfered with, and upheld each other. Women were therefore able to dissent against the regime, society, or both by subtly fighting against these varied norms. Through a review of primary and secondary sources, I found that women were expected to adhere to a set of contradictory gender “rules”: working outside the home, believing themselves equal to men, having children, being married, housekeeping and raising children, upholding communist morality, participating in society, having certain characteristics such as modesty, passivity, and an understanding of human nature and emotions, being self-sacrificing, and taking care of their appearances. Through a study of Russian women’s memoirs written during or about the period between 1964 and 1985, I concluded that women could dissent against these norms in several broad categories including identity, sexuality, and “femininity” or the lack thereof. The women generally dissented very subtly, often by using one gender discourse to support behavior that infringed upon another gender order, and were not consistently “dissentive” in their discourse or actions. I found broad participation in gender dissent among the sample of women studied, and while my results are not generalizable, my data revealed that gender dissent as a concept is traceable in late Soviet Russia.
Changes in waste utilization practices among rural old believers in Estonia
(Tartu Ülikool, 2013) Kriat, Iaroslava; Kiisel, Maie, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
Changing the official memory of communism: Polish politics of memory under the Kaczyński brothers and its impact on social perceptions of the past
(Tartu Ülikool, 2013) Steinbach, Selena; Pettai, Eva-Clarita, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
The cultural influence on decision-making processes in ICT companies: case studies of Brazil and Estonia
(Tartu Ülikool, 2013) De Vincenzo Ordones, Karen; Reino, Anne, juhendaja; Vissak, Tiia, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
The ICT (Information and Communication Technology) companies have been powering the global market since its existence and today it represents the most preeminent industry of the 21st century. Having this sector in the limelight of today’s society, this thesis has based its qualitative case studies in ICT companies of both Brazil and Estonia. The empirical data collected for this study targets how the companies employees deal with hierarchy, authority, team-work and implementing decisions. Therefore, as stated in the title, this thesis aims to identify how culture influences decision-making processes in ICT companies of Brazil and Estonia. The empirical data was analyzed trough the theoretical support of authors from the area of cultural anthropology, sociology and management. The countries studied are located in the extremities of the globe and have contrasting cultural differences, which is evidenced in theories and supported by the results. Brazil and Estonia culturally perceive authority and relations between superiors and subordinates in a completely distinctive way. Whilst Estonians do not give importance for statuses or hierarchic structures, Brazilians, on the other hand, not only feel the need for a strong hierarchic structure but also praise status. In spite of having similar types of decision-making, their attitudes within work environment differs on how much freedom, support and initiatives they have for suggesting or even implementing decisions.
Cyber security and risk society: Estonian discourse on cyber risk and security strategy
(Tartu Ülikool, 2018) Kook, Lauren; McNamara, Eoin Micheál, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste valdkond; Tartu Ülikool. Johan Skytte poliitikauuringute instituut
The main aim of this thesis is to call for a new analysis of cyber security which departs from the traditional security theory. I argue that the cyber domain is inherently different in nature, in that it is lacking in traditional boundaries and is reflexive in nature. Policy-makers are aware of these characteristics, and in turn this awareness changes the way that national cyber security strategy is handled and understood. These changes cannot be adequately understood through traditional understanding of security, as they often are, without missing significant details. Rather, examining these changes through the lens of Ulrich Beck’s risk society theory allows us to fully understand these changes. To support my argument, I analyze statements made by Estonian policy-makers and stakeholder, demonstrating that the way that they understand the nature of the cyber domain and the drafting and handling of cyber security as a result of this understanding is best rationalized through a risk society framework.
The development of a ‘normative battleground’ between the EU and Russia from 2004 to 2014
(Tartu Ülikool, 2017) St John Murphy, Alexandra Rose; McNamara, Eoin Micheál, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste valdkond; Tartu Ülikool. Johan Skytte poliitikauuringute instituut
This thesis will chart the development of a “normative battleground” between the European Union and Russia within Ukraine. This “normative battleground” stems from the clashing securitising projects both the EU and Russia are implementing within Ukraine in order to shape the development of the country according to their own interests. The EU and Russia are widely believed to carry out securitising projects from within different international relations spheres. For this thesis, these are the EU’s “postmodern”/“Kantian” security project, which is incompatible with the Russian “modern”/“Hobbesian” security project. These security projects are manifesting themselves in the norms each side is promoting, and this is where the clash is particularly visible, this is the “normative battleground”. This thesis seeks to provide a holistic conceptualisation of the term “normative battleground” within the framework of Buzan’s English School Triad and to tie its development with the contrasting securitising projects being implemented within Ukraine.
Diffuse support and budget deficit: Evidence from Estonia and Hungary
(Tartu Ülikool, 2010) Leányfalvi, Péter; Trasberg, Viktor, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
The current paper investigates why persistent differences exist among countries in their ability to pursue disciplined fiscal policy. It contributes to the literature that emphasizes the importance of multidisciplinary approach in understanding economic phenomena. An existing theory - that focuses primarily on old EU member states – is used as framework. In the first part of the paper the theory’s general applicability to the Central and Eastern European Region is tested. In line with the framework theory’s suggestion, evidence from 10 Central and Eastern European countries shows that in the absence of extreme external factors, that would push governments towards fiscal restraint, the key to persistent fiscal discipline is a favorable institutional setting (adequate fiscal rules). It primarily depends on certain domestic political and social factors whether this institutional setting is created in a country. The framework theory emphasizes the importance of consensus within the elite and diffuse support in the society towards the political system. In the second part the cases of Estonia and Hungary (the two extremes of fiscal performance in the region) are compared and the results support the validity of the above suggestions. Nevertheless the theory has major shortcomings in the operationalization of diffuse support, which is essential for general applicability. Based on the results of the case comparison the current paper suggests that focusing on attitudes regarding the previous political system is a promising direction for further research on the operationalization of diffuse support as far as post-communist transition countries are concerned.
Digital cooperation in the Baltic Sea region: a case of networked multi-level governance
(Tartu Ülikool, 2015) Aruoja, Kertu; Pääbo, Heiko, juhendaja; Tiits, Marek, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
The rapid advancement and implementation of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) has made the ‘digital world’ an inseparable part of contemporary societies. We have e-commerce, e-democracy, e-administration and e-‘just about anything’. Underlying these digital solutions is the understanding of a borderless and networked world with more and more decentralized states. Globalization pressures thus have the states thinking how to harness the potential of ICTs while upholding their core values. The answer seems to lie in learning how to collectively construct the information society – through horizontal and vertical, transnational and sub-national cooperation. As such, societies are increasingly moving towards polycentric forms of governance that span across state borders and help to accommodate the complexity of modern challenges. This thesis explores how globalization pressures facilitate the diffusion of power in the example of digital cooperation in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR), exploring how it has emerged and what it is like in this day and age. For this, a theoretical synthesis is developed between the concepts of regionalism, digitization and multi-level governance, serving as an analytical framework for advancing the central case study. Through a combination of methods including process-tracing and expert interviewing, the thesis will explore digital cooperation networks in the BSR so to arrive at a wider understanding of the emerging multi-level governance model in the regional digital agenda.
Discourse analysis and small state ‘cyber norms’: Estonia’s views on benefits, limitations, and cooperation
(Tartu Ülikool, 2016) Melby, Aaron; McNamara, Eoin Micheál, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste valdkond; Tartu Ülikool. Johan Skytte poliitikauuringute instituut
Cyber norms are a topic of growing importance, but very little work has been done in relation to a small states ability to create and promote cyber norms. This thesis argues that Estonia is a traditional small state and seeks to determine how Estonia perceives its ability to create and promote cyber norms. To do this this Martha Finnemore’s theory of the cyber norm cultivation has been used. In addition, this thesis uses Alam and Chantzos theory on how the private sector contributes to the creation of norms to determine how successful Estonia has been at integrating the private sector. Five interviews were conducted with officials and experts that are knowledgeable on cyber issues, from a variety of departments in the Estonian government. Discourse analysis was used in order to analyze and determine the official the dominate view of Estonia in relation to three areas, protection of critical infrastructure, e-governance as a norm, and the free and open internet. Through discourse analysis official views on the ability of Estonia to create and promote norms in these areas was determined. In addition the benefits and limitations that Estonia faces while promoting norms and their perceived relationship with the private sector was also analyzed. This thesis finds that despite Estonia being considered a small state they perceive themselves as being fairly effective at promoting cyber norms in most of the areas. Estonia also perceives itself as facing many of the limitations that have traditionally been attributed to small states. Specifically, limited resources are perceived as limiting Estonia’s ability to promote cyber norms in most cases. The benefits that Estonia perceives itself to receive from the promotion of cyber norms is diverse and ranges from financial to the minimizing the risk of conflict by creating clarity. Like the diverse range of benefits that Estonia is perceived to receive from promoting these cyber norms, their ability to cooperate with the private sector varies from topic to topic. Some areas like the protection of critical infrastructure receive good cooperation between the private sector and Estonia, while other areas such as the promotion of a free and open internet or portrayed as having marginal cooperation and less of a need for cooperation.
Dwelling in Visaginas: the phenomenology of post-socialist town
(Tartu Ülikool, 2014) Freimane, Inga; Annist, Aet, juhendaja; Swain, Geoffrey, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
Economics of corruption: game-theoretic modelling of traffic police bribery in transition countries
(Tartu Ülikool, 2010) Mostipan, Ilona; Toomet, Ott, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
Jain argued in 2001 that the focus of future corruption studies should be (1) to “build a comprehensive models of how corruption works at the micro as well as at the macro levels” (p.101) and (2) subject the models to empirical tests. Moreover, he noted, “research on effective mechanisms to solve corruption is even scarcer. Although we have a good idea of what approaches are possible, we do not have more than anecdotal information on which approaches work.” (p.102). This study of traffic police bribery does just that. Modelling of utility payoffs has been derived from specifically-designed qualitative study to present determinants behind strategy selection at the micro-level, building a more comprehensive model. The three theoretical model variations of traffic police bribery were subjected to two empirical tests of anti-corruption reforms in the case of Georgia and in the case of Ukraine. As a result, this provides non-anecdotal information on which approaches work—such as the case of Georgia—and which do not. All in all, this thesis also accomplishes the original study aim—development of a game-theoretic framework for modelling of traffic police bribery—by building a model that produces results in line with the empirical cases. Besides filling the gap in research on the issues outlined by Jain (2001), this thesis also incorporates a regional dimension of transition countries to the above modelling. Conceptually, this research generates additional support to both the wage theory of anti-corruption, as well as to the ‘big bang’ theory: affecting factors like wages, probability of detection, ticket-issuing procedures, simplifying rules and regulations are important components of anti-corruption programmes and need to be tackled simultaneously, so as to generate a rapid shift from a corruption to a no-corruption equilibrium. The insights from interviews revealed that respondents utilised all three types of rationalities—instrumental, bounded and expressive rationalities, suggesting that utility-maximising elements of the models have to be further augmented with incorporation of social norms and beliefs about behaviour of others. Hence, this research can and needs to be taken further. The modelling analysis does not include role of past experience and perception about others, while the case studies suggest that past experience is an important determinant, and that replacement of old police officers with new police officers is an effective tool. Suggestions for future research include incorporating dynamics of evolutionary game theory, based on Young (1998), and Mishra (2006) analysis relating to persistence of corruption. Alternatively or concurrently, the aims of the state (that implements the anti-corruption measures) could also be incorporated into the game, taking it away from a micro-level interaction, similarly to the work of Yao (1997). Experimental research where players role-play drivers and traffic policemen, given set variables and objectives, could be considered for further testing of the theoretical framework. Lastly, current methodological shortcomings could be improved by including increasing the sample size beyond the forty-two cases of driver-traffic policeman interaction and incorporating additional empirical cases.
The effect of hegemonic masculinity in the proportion of women in post-communist parliaments: a case study of Estonia and Poland
(Tartu Ülikool, 2014) Moreland, Anne; Blobaum, Robert, juhendaja; Kutsar, Dagmar, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
The underrepresentation of women in national parliaments is a phenomenon that plagues much of the world, with the Baltic Sea Region being no exception. Two countries, Estonia and Poland, are chosen for comparative analysis in this paper, as they possess different cultures and histories, but have similar results in regards to female representation at a national level. The comparison provides insight into the situation women face in politics in two post-communist states in Central and Eastern Europe. This paper will examine the trends in the proportion of female representatives in Poland and Estonia’s national parliaments in the transition from communism to democracy and post-transition periods. The work seeks to conceptualize why women in Poland and Estonia continue to be grossly underrepresented in the upper echelons of power by employing R.W. Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity. Hegemonic masculinity entails the cultural force that both dominates and subordinates femininity as well as other masculinities, thus resulting in low proportions of women in the national parliaments of the new countries examined. Three time periods are developed for a fuller analysis of changes in the amount of women seated in the upper echelons of power: the communist period, the transition period, 1989-2004, and the post-transition period, 2004-2012. The work notes the changes in gender equality policies in each country after the accession to the European Union in 2004 and the possibilities of greater gender equality in each state.
The effect of outward migration on election outcomes in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania after accession to the European Union
(Tartu Ülikool, 2019) Wright, Helen Winifred Kristina; Solvak, Mihkel, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste valdkond; Tartu Ülikool. Johan Skytte poliitikauuringute instituut
Since 2004, hundreds of thousands of people have emigrated from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to work and live abroad in other European Union member states. Once outside of their countries these citizens - like the majority of emigrants around the world - stop taking part in home elections. This thesis examines what could have happened if these voters had stayed in their home countries and continued to vote. Would election outcomes have changed if these people had participated in them? I look specifically at one election from each country, all of which took place between 2014 and 2016, and their outcomes. My time frame for emigration from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania started in 2004 after all three countries joined the European Union, and ended the year of, or year before, the election I have chosen to study. Using an impact assessment and counterfact model, I calculated my results using data from each country’s national statistics office and the European Social Survey. My results show that election outcomes in Estonia and Lithuania would have remained broadly the same, but in Latvia the political party which received the highest vote share would have changed. In Estonia and Latvia, the centre-right parties would have been strengthened with these extra votes, in Lithuania centre-left parties would gained more support than they did in the real election. This thesis adds to the narrow genre of literature that already exists and looks at the impact of emigration on politics and elections in home countries. It is the first, to my knowledge, that looks specifically at election outcomes in the Baltic states or any of three countries.
Electricity market liberalization, price stability, and energy security: the case of Estonia
(Tartu Ülikool, 2010) Seufert, Eric Benjamin; Molis, Arunas, juhendaja; Palu, Ivo, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaal- ja haridusteaduskond; Tartu Ülikool. Riigiteaduste instituut
The efficacy of this thesis‘ hypothesis, given the competing effects of liberalization on each of the components of the energy security model proposed in the theoretical framework in Chapter 1, cannot be evaluated. Each element of the energy security model is complex and diverges empirically from the predicted theoretical outcomes. And these factors are also highly-dependent on a country‘s pre-liberalization resource profile and market structure, further confusing the net effect of liberalization from an abstract, theoretical standpoint. While the effects of increased prices and increased price volatility following a liberalization program induce negative consequences on a country‘s energy security, the diversity and stability of supply provided by liberalization buttress it. These competing effects differ in magnitude and are difficult to quantify. For this reason, the hypothesis can be neither confirmed nor denied. Estonia is likely to face increased prices and increased price volatility as a result of its liberalization program. As explored in Chapter 5, the Nord Pool Spot market exhibits volatility clustering but not mean reversion, with a high degree of volatility. This volatility, as surmised in the theoretical framework, is difficult to hedge against, leaving Estonia‘s economic infrastructure susceptible to a high degree of input price risk which could be disruptive to the continuity of operations for electricity-intensive industries. Liberalization will however inspire confidence in the Estonian electricity market by foreign investors and provide Estonia access to external sources of electricity, which it will need to utilize as it adapts to EU directives mandating its reduction of oil shale use. While these external sources of electricity will be more expensive than internally-produced electricity, they will also provide diversity and security of supply to Estonia. The net effect of these changes on Estonia‘s energy security is impossible to predict.
Estonia-Russia cross-border cooperation before and after the political crisis of 2014: drawbacks, developments, and transformations
(Tartu Ülikool, 2020) Parshukova, Alina; Pääbo, Heiko, juhendaja; Tartu Ülikool. Sotsiaalteaduste valdkond; Tartu Ülikool. Johan Skytte poliitikauuringute instituut
The topic of cross-border cooperation is increasing in its relevance. When it comes to cross-border cooperation, international relations become an important issue in the framing of transboundary activities and the process of implementation. The healthier and more harmonious is the international environment, the more successful cross-border activities are. Estonia and Russia share the largest transboundary water body in Europe which makes them highly dependent on common environmental problems with preservation of sustainable conditions of the lake, wildlife protection measures, and common fisheries management. However, international relations between Estonia and Russia have never been the easiest ones and stay under the influence of the general international environment. The main aim of the proposed study is to find out if the political developments have a crucial influence on the environmental cooperation and partnership of the local actors, as well as their actions. The research is intended to find drawbacks or benefits of political tensions over environmental cooperation. It is framed as qualitative research based on the comparison of environmental cooperation developments before and after 2014 - a notable point of political disturbances and year of the Estonia-Russia Programme launch as an extension of Estonia-Latvia-Russia Programme. To answer the main question of the research – whether political crisis influence environmental cross-border cooperation – a comparative study of materials of Joint Operational Programs were conducted. Further, the interview with people directly involved in the transboundary cooperation was performed. As a result, the study showed up the general problems of the region which are present there for a quite long time: discrepancies in legislations, poor monitoring and evaluation capabilities, low public visibility of the projects, lack of language knowledge, and the bureaucracy of managing actors. Interviewees gave a positive assessment to the regional cross-border cooperation. The most striking issues for representatives of NGOs were bureaucracy and tight frames of the Programme which “take a life out of the project”.

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