Literature as the Factor of Social Coherence: Estonia’s Case
Literature as the Factor of Social Coherence: Estonia’s Case

Summary/Abstract: In previous literary and cultural approaches it has become customary to treat Estonian nationality as a “written” nationality. On the one hand this means giving a name to our nationality, stressing factionalism. So, for example, has Ea Jansen, Doctor of History, claimed that Estonian nationality can also be considered “the fabrication and fantasy of Baltic-German intellectuals” (Jansen 1998:802). But on the other hand it means that after gaining a name Estonians shaped themselves into a nationality via the text. The national epic Kalevipoeg has been treated as one such text establishing the Estonian nationality (Undusk 1994: 148). The writers’ role as the historical shapers of Estonia’s national consciousness has been considered high (Paul 2001: 188–189).[...]

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