A lecture discusses how Estonia's statehood was initiated by a manifesto in 1918 despite the absence of an army, government, or international recognition.
In a recent one-minute lecture, Marek Tamm, a prominent cultural historian at Tallinn University, explains the pivotal moment in 1918 when Estonia declared its independence. At that time, Estonia lacked a military, a functioning government, and borders, relying instead on a brief manifesto to establish itself as a sovereign entity. This manifesto, consisting of around 500 words, served as a performative act that replaced real power and laid the foundations for a new political identity.
The declaration, which was drafted by a small group of Estonian intellectuals in a time of great turmoil following the collapse of the Russian Empire, emphasized the idea of nationhood without the traditional markers of statehood. February 24, 1918, was marked by a political vacuum as the previous administration lost legitimacy amidst changing power dynamics, particularly with the rise of the Bolsheviks. The manifesto addressed all the people of Estonia, urging them to envision their country not as a province of a foreign empire but as an independent political subject.
Tamm's lecture highlights the historical significance of this document in the context of Estonia's path to nationhood. It underscores the importance of words in shaping national identity and political legitimacy, reflecting on how a simple text can catalyze profound change in a society. This discussion is especially relevant today as Estonia continues to navigate its identity in a complex geopolitical landscape, rooted in its historical narrative of independence.
