This Article Full Text (PDF) References Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Vöörmann, R. Articles by Helemäe, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                   What's this?

Ethnic Relations in Estonia’s Post-Soviet Business Community

Tallinn Pedagogical University, Estonia, voormann{at}iiss.ee

Jelena Helemäe

Tallinn Pedagogical University, Estonia, helemae{at}iiss.ee

The central focus of this paper is an analysis of the problems of ethnic relations in the post-Soviet business community and how entrepreneurs of different ethnic origins articulate them. The core argument is that the ethnic segregation that took place in Soviet Estonia and was based on language (Estonian and Russian) is also present in post-Soviet Estonian entrepreneurship, despite the slogan: money does not know a state (or ethnic) boundaries. In focus group discussions, representatives of three groups of business people (Estonian-owned, non-Estonian-owned and joint companies, i.e. owners are both Estonians and non-Estonians) clearly demonstrate their understandings of what motivates and what isolates entrepreneurs of different ethnic origins in Estonia. At the same time, there are signs demonstrating the need for common activity and hope that in the future there will be an organization at the state level representing and protecting entrepreneurs’ common interests.

Key Words: entrepreneur(ship) • ethnic cooperation • ethnicity • integration • post-Soviet society • segregation • transition

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?