Appendix Table 1. Views of Social Issues in Estonia in 1996
Estonian men with higher education in Tallinn
Improvements in the past ten years:
Motivation (incentives) to do things (E)
Able to purchase things with money, availability
of goods, opportunity to improve living conditions, hard currency
(E)
Improvement in the economic situation (E)
Freedom to act in the economy (E)
Expanded opportunities for education, including
in other countries (E,F)
Increased ability to work according to education
(E)<
Improved communication with the outside world (P)
Lessened international tensions (M)
More opportunities for family travel (vacations,
visiting) (F)
Comment: The improvements are seen as due to Estonian
independence, the market economy, and competition
Things that were seen as worsening:
Rising level of poverty and unemployment (E)
Political situation (M)
Absence of ideas and action (F)
Concentration of economic activity around Tallinn,
regional disparity (some think there was this regional disparity
before, but it was not as apparent) (E)
Increasing social stratification (E)
Some lack of social security, some stress in human
relations related to this (E,P)
Uncertainty related to bigger risks, including bigger
political risks, including global politics (M)
Fear of losing your job (E)
Increased job competition (E)
Lack of time, affects family relations, but some
think that lack of time is not a bad thing (F)
Corruption of government officials (M)
Decrease in Estonian population (M)
Job discrimination against women (P)
Crime in Tallinn (M)
Comment: It was noted that the economic situation
and the chance to take advantage of economic opportunities is
worse in small towns
It was noted that the possibilities are less for
people without residence permits or who do not have Estonian citizenship.
It is difficult for old people
Travel restrictions are more difficult for Russians
Commented on language problem for Russians
Much of the cause for economic problems of people
was seen as lack of incentive (people's own problem)
Note: Overall the economic situation seemed more
a benefit than a problem. The overall concern was with economic
issues
Estonian women with higher education in Tallinn
Things were targeted by this group as having improved
in the past ten years:
Availability and selection of goods (E)
Rise in the standard of living (E)
Openness toward outside world (M)
Possibility of travel (P)
People are more enterprising and independent (F)
Possibility to decide freely by yourself (P)
Housing problems now solvable (E)
Work is more interesting, involving computers and
such (E)
More access to information, including teachers being
able to talk honestly with parents (F)
Things that were seen as worsening:
Young people have a harder time finding work after
finishing school (E)
Problems for pensioners (E)
Increasing risk, lack of social security (E)
Increasing stratification, but there was disagreement
as to whether it is justified (E)
Tension related to privatization and restitution
(E, P)
Need to raise educational level of population, including
adult education, but concern with cost, whether paid for by the
state or by individual (E)
Some thought there was too little free time, but
others disagreed (F?)
Inflation (E)
Need to pay for lessons for children that were free
before (E)
Relationships between people have become more complicated,
less friendliness, but some disagreed (F)
Comment: It was noted that much of economic problems
is seen as due to people not being enterprising enough, or not
being responsible enough, as a worker
Economic problems in agriculture, leading to increased
alcohol consumption, especially by men
Some thought that the problems affect men more than
women, especially economic problems, while family problems affect
women more, but some thought there were not large differences
between men and women
Some thought that the problems affected Russians
more, especially due to language, but others thought it mainly
depended on education, and others thought that it depended on
motivation
Note: Overall, people seemed to think things were
better especially in the economic area. In the area of family
and personal relations, some thought things were more difficult,
but there were some who disagreed at virtually every point.
Russian men with higher education in Tallinn
Things were targeted by this group as having improved
in the past ten years:
Payoff and opportunity for individual initiative,
although some thought there were substantial opportunities for
this in the Soviet period (E)
Goods are now freely available in stores (E)
Increase in information (P)
Freedom of self-expression for all ethnic groups
(P)
Things seen as worsening:
Lack of social maintenance, predatory privatization
(E)
Deterioration, threat to social, political, and
cultural rights of Russians (P)
Job discrimination against Russians (P)
Greater inequality in society generally (E)
Economic uncertainty about the future (E)
Spoiled relations, especially economic relations,
with Russia (M)
Stress (F(?))
New forms of criminality, although crime overall
was seen by some as decreasing (M)
Deterioration in moral values (F)
Note: Overall economic changes are seen as having
good and bad aspects, somewhat more bad than good. Another area
of strong concern is personal (P), especially in terms of discrimination
against Russians
Comment: The role of the Pope in the demise of state
socialism and his direction of Poles to vote for Lech Walesa was
mentioned.
It was commented that women have a harder time than
men.
Comment on difficult situation of retired people
Russian women with higher education in Tallinn
Things targeted as better were:
Disappearance of fear of the return of totalitarianism,
individual freedom, although some said they were never in fear
(P)
Opportunity for economic improvement (E)
Some thought that nothing was better
Things seen as worsening were:
The moral climate for children (F)
Financial barriers to obtaining education for children
(E)
Worsening economic situation (E)
Job discrimination against Russians (P)
Uncertainty about the future (E)
Lack of social guarantees, destructive individualization
(E)
Worsening human relations (F)
Increased social stratification (E)
Inflation (E)
Note: Overall, this group thought that things had
gotten worse in economics, in personal situation (discrimination),
and in family, such as moral climate for children
Estonian men without higher education in Tartu
Things targeted as better were:
You can function with only Estonian language now
(without Russian), Estonian as official language (P)
Freedom of speech and of access to information (P)
Education is appreciated more
Freedom to travel (P)
Availability of high quality goods, and of goods
generally (E)
Things seen as worsening include:
Lack of money as an impediment to travel (E)
Inflation (E)
Crime (M)
Corruption (M)
Problems of young people and people over 40 finding
work (E)
Alcohol consumption, leading to crime, partly due
to unemployment (?)
Human relations have become confused due to privatization
and land reform (F)
Separation of state officials from common people
(M)
Social stratification, but some think it is inevitable
and not a problem(E)
Lack of social security (E)
Cost of medical care (E)
Lack of new traditions to replace old traditions
(F)
Income decline (E)
Unemployment (E)
Regional differentiation, Tallinn more privileged
than Tartu (E)
Pollution of local river (M)
Note: Overall, Personal aspects, such as prominence
of Estonian language and personal freedom seen as very good.
Economic situation is seen as having positive and negative aspects.
Overall seems a balance between good and bad, with perhaps more
good. Note that these tend to be skilled workers, but it included
one unemployed person. He did not seem especially upset.
Russians seen as having language problems. Problems
of Russians seen as from not knowing Estonian language. Those
Russians without Estonian citizenship can travel to Russia but
not to the West.
They seem to think that taking advantage of economic
opportunities depends on education but also on character.
Women are thought to be more concerned with problems
related to the family
Estonian women without higher education in Tartu
Things targeted as better were:
Freedom of choice (P)
Everything is possible (E)
Availability of goods (E)
Freedom of speech (P)
Freedom to travel (P)
Better foreign relations (M)
Better relations between people (F)
Democratic society (M)
Things seen as worse include:
Financial problems (E)
Increased social stratification, but some think
it is justified (E)
Unemployment, especially for women over 40 and for
low educated people, and for people in rural areas (E, P)
Need for adult education (E)
Cost of travel, this is seen as limiting the opportunities
for travel more than they are expanded (E)
Cost of medical care (E)
Worse relations between people due to importance
of money (F)
Embarrassment of people due to freedom of speech
(F)
Alcohol is seen as a problem for successful businessmen
and also the unemployed. Some see this as a problem mainly for
men and some see it as a problem for both men and women. Also
drugs and gambling. (E, F)
Crime, but some see this as improving (M)
Need to be better laws (M)
Parents not spending enough time with their children,
due to need to make money (F)
Note: The personal freedom issues seem quite important
to these people. Overall, the financial situation is seen as
having gotten worse. They seem more concerned about the economic
situation than the Tartu men but not extremely concerned.
Some think those with economic problems don't work
hard enough or have the right attitude
Unemployment among Russians is seen as due to lack
of Estonian language knowledge
Unskilled workers are seen as especially hard hit
by the economic situation. Also, there is acknowledgment that
some people cannot work.
Generally economic problems greater in rural areas
Estonian men without higher education in Tamsalu
Things targeted as better were:
Estonia being its own country (M)
Estonia having its own currency (E)
Freedom to move, possibility to move and to travel
(some note the restrictions due to increased cost of travel) (P)
Easier to travel West now, more difficult to travel
East
Before whether you could travel was a political
question, now it is a financial question
More opportunities to use your knowledge, such as
at work, but also more opportunities to fail, overall more freedom
of choice (E)
Improvement in material conditions (E)
Freedom of communication with other countries (P)
Some said that nothing had gotten better
Things seen as worse:
Things have become more expensive, higher cost of
living (E)
Decline in standard of living (E)
Lack of time, faster tempo of life, lack of free
time (?)
Lack of freedom to travel around, due to higher
costs (E)
Increasing stress of everyday life (P)
Inflation (E)
Lack of social safety net, but social security may
be improving some recently (E)
Social differentiation between town and country,
better in Tallinn (E)
Lack of opportunities for young people after finishing
school (E)
Increased social stratification (some people thought
this was good) (E)
Unemployment (E)
Alcoholism, due to unemployment (E)
Crime (but not locally) (M)
Note: Overall the economic situation is seen as having
gotten much worse. The overall view is more negative than of
men in Tartu. There is pride in Estonia being it's own country,
but this does not seem to compensate very much for the economic
problems.
Noted that the currency change may not be good for
old people, who are used to rubles, also old people's living conditions
have worsened.
Some think that retired people are relatively well
off and exaggerate their problems
Also people with poor health are worse off.
Job problems are seen as more serious for women,
getting and new job more difficult, fired more easily and lower
wages
Problems of non-Estonians are seen to stem from not
knowing Estonian language
Note that women get lower wages and are fired first
Estonian women without higher education in Tamsalu
Things targeted as better were:
More honest education for children (P)
More autonomy in work (P,E)
Life more interesting (P)
Availability of goods (E)
Improvement in standard of living (E)
Improvement in water system of village (E,M)
Better possibilities to travel (P)
Better information in media (P)
Things seen as worse:
Increase in the cost of living, inflation (E)
Cost of lessons for children (E)
Increased social stratification, but some thought
it was inevitable, and some thought it had always existed but
was not talked about (E)
Unemployment (E)
Regional differentiation, better situation in cities
(E)
Note: Economic problems are viewed as serious, but
the overall standard of living is seen as improving, partially
through infrastructural improvements in the town. There seemed
to be substantial value placed on personal aspects such as more
freedom and work becoming more interesting. Unemployment was
seen as the main economic problem. They seem to have a more positive
view than men in the same town.
Cost of living seen to affect mainly those living
in small places, some young people, and some retired, but there
were divergent opinions about the young and the retired
Unemployment is seen as affecting women more than
men, and women are paid less than men
Russian men without higher education in Narva
Things seen as improving:
Rising standard of living, some disagreement (E)
Feeling of freedom (some disagreement with this),
possibility for self-expression (P)
Improvement in quality of education and possibility
of (foreign) education (E)
Absence of shortages and lines for shops (E)
Things seen as worsening:
Feeling of uncertainty and lack of social and legal
protection (E, P)
Lack of social security (E)
Crime (M)
Breaking of family ties with relatives living outside
of Estonia, especially in Russia (F)
Growth of poverty, growth of social stratification
(E)
Inflation (E)
Legislation and worsening of the relationship of
government toward the population (M)
Social and political divisions between citizens
and non-citizens (P)
Corruption (M)
Need for more and better Estonian language instruction
for Russians (P)
Problems with Russian border guards (M)
Note: This group seem concerned with the negative
and positive aspects of economic change and increased stratification.
They seemed to come out somewhat on the positive side of economic
change, including seeing overall improvements in education, despite
complaints about teaching of Estonian language in Russian schools.
They are concerned about the position of Russians and see negative
consequences for family relations of this. They do not see it
simply as a question of Russians learning Estonian language, although
they see knowledge of Estonian language as important.
They comment that women have a harder time than men
Estonians have more security than Russians, partly
or mainly due to having a blue passport, partly signifying command
of Estonian language
They see the life situation and wages of Russians
in Tallinn as much better than that of Russians in Narva.
Russian women without higher education in Narva
Things targeted as better were:
The wide availability of goods to buy, no shortages
(E)
The possibility to realize one's abilities, for
self and for children (P, F)
Better possibilities for children (F)
Freedom of speech (but some noted that if you express
your opinion and your employer does not like your opinion, you
may be fired) (P)
Possibility to obtain information (P)
Boys are not in danger when they go for their military
service (some disagreement about this) (M, F)
Things seen as worsening:
Material problems, in general and in costs for camps
and other activities and opportunities for children (E)
Growth in unemployment, including for young people
(E)
Age discrimination against unemployed older people
(in 40s) (P)
Falling of living standards (E)
Increased inequality in society (E)
Parents spending less time with their children (F)
Citizenship problems for Russians (P)
Difficulty of older Russians learning Estonian language
(P)
Unavailability or poor quality of Estonian language
teaching in (some) Russian schools (P)
Ideals from childhood have vanished, values have
changed, new values have not replaced the old values, necessity
to be pushy to get ahead (F)
Lack of social safety net (E)
Isolation because of the new borders, difficulties
of getting a visa to go to Russia, high cost of tickets to cultural
events (F)
Uncertainty about the future (E)
Note: They seem to see the world similarly to the
men from Narva, with somewhat more concern about worse moral values
of the young. They also see both sides of the economic situation,
but seem to come out somewhat on the positive side. They seem
to see the worst economic problem as unemployment.
Russian men without higher education in Sillimae
Things seen as improving:
Possibility to spend money on what you want (availability
of goods) (E)
People thinking about their destiny (P)
Opportunity for more information (P)
Relations with leadership more informal, but some
disagree (F)
Freedom to express yourself (F)
Opportunity to travel to the West (P)
Things seen as worsening:
Crime, although some think it is decreasing (M)
Lower standard of living (E)
Increased stratification (E)
Low purchasing power (E)
Danger from crime if you are well-off (?)
Corruption (M)
Decline in social security (E)
Low pay and unemployment , but some think the unemployed
are lazy(E)
More difficult to travel to Russia (M)
Estonian government does not care about the Russians
(M, P)
Environment (M)
Note: There was concern with the economy, and the
main problem seemed to be low pay rather than unemployment. There
was satisfaction with new freedoms, and there seemed less salience
of discrimination against Russians than among the focus groups
in Narva. There was concern with the environment, but a sense
of frustration as to what to do about it. There also was concern
about crime. Overall, the pattern of concerns seemed more similar
to those in 1991 than among other focus groups.
Some thought that the issue for Russians was citizenship,
while others thought it was Estonian language. There was mentioned
that there are free Estonian language classes for the unemployed.
Russian women without higher education in Sillimae
Things seen as improving:
Availability of goods in shops (E)
Opportunity to get housing (E)
Travel to foreign countries (West) (P)
Better social services for the unemployed (E)
More information (F)
Better attitude of children toward studying languages,
more encouragement from parents (F)
More choice in the medical system (E)
Things seen as worsening:
Unemployment (E)
Worry about (economic) future of children (E)
Fear of losing your job (E)
Cost of schooling (E)
Alcohol among men from economic situation (E)
Worse supplies at work (E)
Problems communicating with relatives in Russia
(F)
Drug addiction among teenagers, related to lower
prices for drugs and due to economic despair (F,E)
Declining moral values of young people (F)
Lack of social organizations for young people and
children (F)
Crime (M)
Environment, but is not seen as so bad by some people
(M)
Note: The economic situation is seen as much more
bad than good, but there are seen to be substantial social improvements
in freedom and in some social interactions. Knowledge of Estonian
language is seen as very important for young people. Language
knowledge is seen as more important than citizenship for jobs.
The situation in Estonia is seen as better for ethnic
Estonians.
Pensioners are seen as having very little money,
retirement age is 45.
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