Narva Region within the Estonian Republic: From autonomism to accommodation?

Article is part of a special issue, 'Region, State and Identity in Central and Eastern Europe'.

Journal abstract:

This essay examines the predominantly Russian-speaking city of Narva and its surrounding region of Ida-Virumaa within the framework of the independent Estonian state restored to being in 1991. From 1988 to 1993, the city became the locus of a movement for regional autonomy that challenged the emerging unitary and 'nationalizing' state order. The study assesses why the frequent parallels between Ida-Virumaa and the breakaway 'Transdniestran Republic' in Moldova during these years ultimately proved unfounded. It also suggests that, despite subsequent moves towards fuller political integration of the region into the state, 'Estonia's Narva problem' is still far from being resolved as the country prepares itself for entry to the European Union.

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