Estonia: Return To Independence (Westview Series on the Post-Soviet Republics) [Paperback]

Rein Taagepera (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0813317037 | ISBN-13: 978-0813317038 | Publication Date: May 20, 1993

After breaking free from the Bolsheviks in 1918, Estonia enjoyed independence until 1940, when the country was subsumed by the Soviet Union. Not until 1991 was Estonia able to make its next successful bid for sovereignty. In this book, Rein Taagepera traces the evolution of Estonia from prehistory to the present, when a radical turn of events in the former Soviet Union once again altered the destiny of this Baltic nation.The author explores in depth the remarkable changes in Estonia since 1980, framing his analysis within the larger picture of the Soviet Union and its demise. He also examines the issue of ethnic tensions between Estonians and Russian colonists and speculates on how unrest will affect the future of the country. Throughout his analysis, the author weaves in such key questions as: Why did Sovietization fail? How did Estonia’s quest for autonomy affect Soviet dissolution? What role will the country play on the global stage? What will Estonia’s future hold?

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Rein Taagepera is professor of social science at the University of California at Irvine and was a member of Estonia’s 1991 Constitutional Assembly.

Product Details

• Paperback: 268 pages
• Publisher: Westview Press (May 20, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0813317037
• ISBN-13: 978-0813317038
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,184,775 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #17 in Books > History > Europe > Estonia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Comprehencive Book, October 18, 2001

By 

ilia davidovich (Petaqh Tiqwa, GD Israel) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Estonia: Return To Independence (Westview Series on the Post-Soviet Republics) (Paperback)

Very good book, interesting history review of the past, but a little bit PROPAGANDA sounding end, anyway, the excellent source for those who is interested in Estonian history.

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Ideal for students of East European Studies, November 5, 2002

By 

"polyglot15" (Ardmore, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Estonia: Return To Independence (Westview Series on the Post-Soviet Republics) (Paperback)

"Return to Independence" is perhaps one of the most unique books on the topic of Estonia. It is one part historical account, one part autobiography, and one part personal polemic. Taagepera mixes concise, academic prose with a dose of literary caprice when relating personal anecdotes and ingenious metaphors, resulting in a book about much more than the Estonian national identity, or the Estonian struggle for freedom from the USSR. Rather, this book is about of the indomitability of the human spirit, and the fuel to that spirit that we know as freedom.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Really interesting account of Estonias return to independance, December 21, 2007

By 

Kiwi (Mississauga, Ontario Canada) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Estonia: Return To Independence (Westview Series on the Post-Soviet Republics) (Paperback)

I picked up this book to read out of a vague interest in the Baltic States and ended up reading it cover to cover in a couple of evenings. The author does a great job of covering Estonian history and culture in the early part of the book, then the impact of Soviet rule (which he calls colonial...a very accurate depiction of the soviet empire), then covers the steps by which Estonia regained independance. Along the way, he interjects personal experiences into the narrative, something which makes the book even more interesting. Well worth the read if you want to know more about a little-known country.

The only flaw from my perspective was that as the book was written and published back in 1993, it misses the last 14 years and one has to go elsewhere for this. More a case of when the book was written than anything else of course......

Also, as an aside, if you're interested in books on Estonia, or set in Estonia, try Sofi Oksanen's Purge. Brilliant novel, won the 2008 Finlandia Prize, #1 on the best seller list in Finland when it was first published. A real eye-opener on life in Soviet-occupied Estonia.