Behind the narrative of a consistent struggle for independence under Soviet occupation, Estonia’s Soviet past still awaits deeper exploration, particularly in terms of the everyday experiences of its inhabitants, including non-Estonian minorities. By re-assessing daily practices in an illiberal society during the years of Soviet stabilization (1960s-1970s), this project moves beyond the ideological confrontation between dissidents and the regime to examine individual and collective agency in key areas such as labor, education, culture, and leisure, with particular attention to ethnicity, generation, and gender. We explore the interdependence of state and society and consider both national particularities and transnational commonalities within the “Soviet West.” By reaching out to previously underrepresented voices from the borderlands, we contribute to a more nuanced and inclusive understanding of the past, challenging the Russo-centric traditions of Soviet historiography, especially at a time when Russia distorts history to threaten the security of its neighbors.

The Institute of History, Archaeology and Art History is part of the School of Humanities at TLÜ. The Institute was established in 2015, based on the Institute of History (founded in 1947 as part of the Academy of Sciences of Soviet Estonia) that joined Tallinn University in 2005. The Institute conducts research in History, Archaeology, Art History, Mnemoistory and Environmental History, as well as in the history of these disciplines. The Institute coordinates the work of large-scale projects funded by the Estonian Research Foundation led by scholars of the School of Humanities. 

This project is funded by the Estonian Research Council grant PRG2140.