Tartu Workshop

Karsten Brüggemann opened the workshop by introducing his findings about the ESSR Society for Spreading Political and Scientific Knowledge (ENSV Poliitiliste ja teadusalaste teadmiste levitamise ühing), from 1962 onwards called the "Science" Society (Ühing "Teadus"). He demonstrated how the organisation was permanently challenged by the conflicting demands of expanded educational activities, counted by numbers of organised lectures and qualitative standards especially in ideological terms. On the example of the Society's V congress held in 1958, he analysed how the atmosphere of the "Thaw" era impacted the debates as representatives of the local organisations questioned the "hunt for numbers" and introduced new forms of propagandistic activities answering in particular to the demands of local youth. 

After Karsten's presentation, Maja Soomägi, project intern, presented her MA thesis from Uppsala University, which is an archival research and oral history study focusing on Estonian women's experiences of travelling in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and 1970s.

Kristo Nurmis presented the theses of his paper on the incorporation of Estonia to the USSR. He analysed what the Estonian case can tell us about Soviet nationality policy, in particular the demotion of the national status from a sovereign state to a union republic, the transition from an Estonian minority regime to the Soviet regime, and the reception of Soviet nationality policy, especially in relation to Soviet repressions.

Timur Guzairov presented a paper dealing with his current research focus: education in Soviet Estonia. The presentation dealt specifically with the topic of pedagogical propaganda, which was defined, according the Pedagogical Encyclopaedia (1966), as "the explanation and dissemination of pedagogical knowledge, the achievements of pedagogical science, and advanced pedagogical experience among public education workers and the general public." The case study is based on archival material from the Tallinn 36 School, which had both Estonian- and Russian-language classes, and compares and analyses the topics of lectures and reports at school‒wide parents’ meetings. 

Heli Reimann highlighted the biography of the Estonian music populariser and historian Valter Ojakäär.

Last but not least, our PhD student Andreas Reimand briefly presented his research project. Throughout the day we were also able to listen to interesting presentations from our colleagues in Tartu, who shared their current research with us.