The singing revolution
Summary of findings
Estonia is a nation that has struggled constantly against conquering nations in the past. It has seen the rule of the Germans, the Danish, the Polish, the Swedes, and most recently, the Soviet Union. Despite the onslaught of occupation that the Estonians have had to endure, there lies a strong sense of nationalism that the Estonian people have refused to let go of. In their final push for independence, the Baltic people embraced their cultural and national identity, using it to their advantage. Hundreds of thousands of people gathered at music festivals to openly defy Soviet rule and sing cultural songs that have been deemed illegal by their occupiers. Through these organized nonviolent actions, Estonia was able to establish a new government and achieve sovereignty. |
Reflection of Movement
The Singing Revolution proved to be very effective in the long run. The movement for Estonian independence heavily hinged on their nationalist pursuits and issues of identity. Although it might not have been the only factor for seeking freedom, it was the predominant issue that was addressed during the revolution. If it were not for the rallying of the Baltic people behind their cultural symbols and practices, the movement would not have been as effective as it was. Having a history of consecutive occupation for centuries does not sit well with morale, but the steady and constant reminder that their culture did not falter through immense hardship is a symbol of hope and resilience that any remotely proud citizen would proudly support.
Resources
Herem, Martin, Col. "The Strategy and Activity of the Forest Brothers: 1947-1950." CTX 3.3 (2013): n. pag. Global ECCO. Web.
Tedla, Aden. "Estonians Campaign for Independence (The Singing Revolution_, 1987-1991." Nonviolent Action Database. Swarthmore College, 01 Oct. 2011. Web.
The Singing Revolution. Dir. James Tusty and Muareen Castle Tusty. N.p., n.d. Web.
Smith-Estrada, Carmen. "Estonians Stop Toxic Phosphorite Mining, 1987-88." Global Nonviolent Action Database. Swarthmore College, 25 Sept. 2011. Web.
Zunes, Stephen. "Estonia's Singing Revolution (1986-1991) | ICNC." ICNC. N.p., 29 June 2016 Web. 05 Dec. 2016.
Tedla, Aden. "Estonians Campaign for Independence (The Singing Revolution_, 1987-1991." Nonviolent Action Database. Swarthmore College, 01 Oct. 2011. Web.
The Singing Revolution. Dir. James Tusty and Muareen Castle Tusty. N.p., n.d. Web.
Smith-Estrada, Carmen. "Estonians Stop Toxic Phosphorite Mining, 1987-88." Global Nonviolent Action Database. Swarthmore College, 25 Sept. 2011. Web.
Zunes, Stephen. "Estonia's Singing Revolution (1986-1991) | ICNC." ICNC. N.p., 29 June 2016 Web. 05 Dec. 2016.