Oksana Alekseev

Politicized Identities. Generations of Russian-speakers in Estonia Between Political Narratives

In my PhD project, I investigate how Russian-speakers in Estonia perceive political narratives from both Estonia and Russia, focusing on distinct socialization experiences including the experience of historical turning points as well as the individual’s socioeconomic status and social environment. Thereby, my interest lies in the perception and navigation of political narratives from Russia and Estonia and generational differences in how individuals interpret or negotiate these narratives.

The political narratives from the Putin-regime are, e.g., the ‘Russophobic West/Estonia’, ‘Русский мир (Russian World)’, ‘decadent West’, etc., which are well studied (cf. among others Mareš and Sosna 2025, Maj 2023, Kuzio 2022, Tyshka 2022, Blackburn 2021, Cheskin 2019, Foxall 2019, Kallas 2016, Clunan 2014). From the Estonian side I am interested in the narrative of the Russian-speakers as ‘Soviet occupiers’ and the narrative of the Russian minority as a risk factor for national security in the public discourse (cf. Schulze and Pupcenoks 2025, Polynin 2023, Cheskin 2013), along the narrative of an ‘ethnic divide’ and institutionalized ideas concerning ethnicity (cf. Cheskin 2021).

Theoretically, my project draws on narrative identity theory, understanding narratives as contextualized meaning-making practices that shape and reflect individual and collective identities as well as attitudes (cf. Somers 1994 and Petterson and Monroe 1998). I conceptualize narrativity as an ontological condition of social life (cf. Bruner 1987). In applying Somers’ framework, my project explores how identity narratives and political attitudes among Russian-speakers in Estonia are shaped by their social, political, and historical contexts.

Methodologically, the study employs a mixed-methods approach. It combines narrative interviews with Russian-speaking individuals in Estonia with an online survey. While the interviews provide in-depth insight into how individuals narrate their sense of belonging and identity in response to political narratives, the survey is designed to evaluate broader patterns in political attitudes within the Russian-speaking population, focusing in particular on generational, socio-economic, and regional differences. The interview data is analyzed using principles of Grounded Theory Methodology, allowing for inductive theme development based on participants’ lived experiences, which in turn informs the design of the survey.

• Participation at the Tallinn Winter School, Tallinn University, January 13-31, 2025.
• Participation in the Council of the Baltic Sea States (CBSS) Summer University 2024 Balticness in Transition: Identity and Resilience in the Baltic Sea Region, Tallinn University, July 15-21, 2024.
• “Narratives of Identity. Generational Differences among the Russian Minority in Estonia,” international workshop Resonant Conflicts. Turning Points in the Baltic Sea Region, organised by the IRTG Baltic Peripeties. Narratives of Reformations, Revolutions and Catastrophes, Department for Language and Literature, NTNU Trondheim, May 22-24, 2024.