<
https://theconversation.com/estonias-language-and-culture-are-becoming-battlegrounds-for-independence-from-putins-russia-246195>
"Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are once again feeling under threat from their
larger neighbour, Russia. Throughout the 20th century the Baltic states had to
fight Russia for their very existence. Now the legacy of this recent history
looms large over contemporary regional geopolitics.
The Russian occupation of Crimea in 2014 and the subsequent full-scale invasion
of Ukraine in 2022 have reignited fears in all three countries.
Understandably, the Baltic states are now doubling down on defence and
security. Each has increased its defence spending.
They are also investing in a joint Baltic defence line which includes hundreds
of fortified bunkers and anti-tank obstacles. The three countries are supported
by multinational Nato military units and are also part of the joint
expeditionary force, a UK-led multinational military partnership.
Last year I was in Tartu in Estonia, helping to organise an event as part of
the city’s year as a European capital of culture. The theme of the programme
was “arts of survival”. There was a strong focus on the importance of the
relationship between Tartu – and Estonia itself, of course – and Europe.
Tartu, Estonia’s second-largest city, is about 40km from the border with Russia
and has already experienced interference from its larger neighbour. In May
2024, Russia was blamed for disrupting the GPS signals of aircraft, causing
Finnish airline Finnair to suspend its daily flights to Tartu airport. It was a
stark reminder of how easily Russia can interfere in daily life.
Yet daily life in Tartu carries on, as I saw during my stay there.
I helped to organise a public panel, “Arts of survival on the border with
Russia”. This was a co-creation of the Baltic Geopolitics Programme of the
Cambridge University Centre for Geopolitics, the Baltic Defence College in
Tartu, the University of Tartu, and the British Embassies in Riga and Tallinn.
The panel brought together political scientists and historians to discuss the
history and contemporary reality of life on the border with Russia. A major
focus was the changing ideas of identity, war and culture. The event showed the
importance of cultural study, and emphasised the importance of media and
communications in providing information to support the public in a crisis."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
