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Journalistic Perspectives on Nordic Identity in Estonia
Niiler, James Viking ; Shavit, Anna (advisor) ; Turková, Kateřina (referee)
Since its restoration of independence in 1991, Estonia has sought to include itself in the Nordic region (Norden) to boost its international reputation and promote its geopolitical interests. However, Estonia's inclusion within Norden is questionable and controversial despite its historical and cultural links to the region. For this Thesis, I conduct a qualitative case study, performing semi-structured interviews with six leading Estonian journalists to ascertain the state of Estonia's national identity vis-à-vis the Nordic region. Contextualizing these interviews by drawing on contemporary history and theories of nation branding, agenda-setting, and constructionism, I conclude that, due to current social and economic factors, Estonia cannot be considered a "Nordic country" at this time. However, Estonia undoubtedly lies within the Nordic region's sphere of influence and is on track for further integration with Norden, due to both internally generated reforms and external geopolitical pressures. Keywords Estonia, national identity, Nordic, journalism, agenda-setting, constructionism, nation branding
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