‘Private transnationality' within the realm of mixed marriages in Soviet and independent Estonia

Independent Estonia was incorporated into the USSR in 1940; the ensuing political and social processes increased the number of Russian-speaking inhabitants in Estonia from the post-WWII ~3%, in 1945, to ~35%, in 1980. My PhD research is on the negotiations between the rather distinct and yet inter-mingled life-worlds of ‘Estonian-speaking locals’ and ‘Russian-speaking newcomers’ at the more private everyday encounters. My primary focus is on the life-story interviews with inter-ethnic (inter-cultural) families that consist of spouses from the abovementioned two ‘constellations’. I have conducted 90 interviews with representatives of several generations within such families.

In my presentation, I focus on the life-stories of the older generation inter-ethnic spouses (b. 1930-1960) and of their children. The time-scope of biographies therefore ranges from the authoritarian USSR to the post-1991 independent Estonia. First, I look at the symbolic and physical connections and borders that such marriages create(d). I pay attention to the spouses and generations differences in relating to surrounding physical space. How have the ‘Eastern’ connections shaped families’ lives and identities before and after 1991? Second, I look at the dynamics of family decisions, especially in inter-generational relations. What has influenced the choices for children’ educational language and ‘passport nationality’? How important are gender and family-role divisions here? How have such decisions influenced next generations’ border making and crossing strategies? Third, in consideration to temporal dynamics, I discuss my idea of ‘private trans-nationality’ – hopefully not an oxymoron – that emerged within the ‘space’ of inter-ethnic marriages in the Soviet frames and that carried over to the post-1991 conditions of Estonia with relative stability; especially, in the face of the radical changes in the political sphere.