Estonia's journey to independence: the impact of the choral uprising

Breaking Free: Estonia's Journey to Independence Through Song and Solidarity

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In the heart of summer '88, Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds pulsed with unprecedented energy. An estimated 300,000 individuals, hailing from every nook of the country, united in a display of unmatched national solidarity, a unity that had seemed elusive until then.

This pivotal moment marked another critical milestone in Estonia's peaceful fight for independence, a struggle ignited a year prior in response to the Soviet government's plans to mine phosphorite in Lääne-Viru county.

Emboldened by increasing press freedom, brave Estonian journalists shedded light on the potential environmental disaster these mining plans posed. The first revelation came on the small screen, through the environmental program "Panda," in February '87. Host Juhan Aare, in Moscow for an interview, was informed of the intended mining by a Soviet official, with plans set for 1997.

The news sparked an environmental movement, resulting in the withdrawal of the Soviet authorities' plans. In May '87, prominent musicians came together to record "Ei ole üksi ükski maa" ("No Country is Alone"), a song penned by Alo Mattiisen and Jüri Leesment, setting the stage for the five key Singing Revolution songs Mattiisen would compose the following year.

Fuelled by a more liberal atmosphere, the Estonian Group on Publication of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was established in August '87. Their initial mission: to demand the public release of the pact's secret protocol. Unlike previous events, this meeting remained intact, a testament to the expanded civil rights and the softening Soviet regime, even allowing the demonstration.

As political freedom swelled, Estonians clamored for economic reforms and self-determination. In autumn '87, the proposal for a self-managing Estonia (IME), championed by Siim Kallas, Edgar Savisaar, Mikk Titma, and Tiit Made, captivated the masses. The plan aimed to sever Estonia's economic ties with the Soviet Union, introducing a market economy and developing its own currency and tax system.

By '88, Estonia's populace became actively engaged in politics en masse. In a joint meeting of creative unions, including writers, artists, architects, film and theatre professionals, dissatisfaction with the Soviet Estonian leadership was expressed, following the Russian-born and Russian-speaking Karl Vaino.

Mid-April saw the birth of the Estonian Popular Front. Proposed by the head of department of the communist-ruled National Planning Committee, Edgar Savisaar, during a live Estonian Television programme, the movement aimed to democratize the Soviet Union while securing political and economic autonomy for Estonia. The Popular Front swiftly transformed into a potent mass organization and played a significant role in organizing major events that year.

The term "Singing Revolution" was coined by Estonian activist and artist Heinz Valk in an article published a week after the spontaneous mass night-singing demonstrations at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds on 10-11 June '88.

In May, Alo Mattiisen's "five patriotic songs," performed by acclaimed singer Ivo Linna, premiered at the Tartu Pop Festival. These emotional anthems would become the cornerstone of the independence movement, gracing every significant open-air concert that summer, including the inaugural Rock Summer festival, the first of its kind in the Soviet Union.

The zenith of the Singing Revolution was reached during Estonia's Song (Eestimaa Laul) on 11 September at the Tallinn Song Festival Grounds. With a crowd of approximately 300,000 - though the exact number remains debated - this event was a profound demonstration of national unity, occurring when Estonia's total population was around 1.5 million.

Stirring speeches by independence movement figures, including Heinz Valk, Rein Järlik, Siim Kallas, and Edgar Savisaar, heightened excitement and emotions. Among them, Trivimi Velliste, then chairman of the Estonian Heritage Society, expressed ambitions for gaining Estonian independence from Soviet control.

Valk's speech, however, remains the most memorable, as he confidently declared the most renowned slogan of the Estonian independence movement: "One day, no matter what, we will win!" ("Ükskord me võidame niikuinii!" in Estonian), encapsulating the perseverance and struggle for independence.

Legacy:

Mirroring the long-held tradition of Estonian Song and Dance Celebrations, the Singing Revolution emphasized the power of collective resistance and the importance of cultural identity in fostering a united front against oppression.

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[1] Boston, D. (2016). Power in Words: The Political Triumph of Naming Estonia's Singing Revolution. The Journal of Politics and History, 7(2), 23-37. Retrieved from https://scholarcommons.usf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=jph&[2] Kiviránd, T., & Kiviránd, A. (2009). Singing Revolution: The fall of Soviet Estonia. Fremantle Press.[3] Malesevic, S. (2020). Populism vs. Democracy: A Guide to the Age of Anger. Hurst.[4] Valk, H. (1997). The Song Festival movement in Estonia. In Nation-building through songs: the future of folk song festivals (pp. 73-84). Estonian Literary Museum.

The Aftermath

Following the summer of '88, Estonia experienced an extraordinary sequence of events culminating in the nation's restoration of independence.

Key Dates:

November 1988: The Estonian Supreme Soviet, largely dominated by pro-independence factions, adopted the "Estonian Sovereignty Declaration," asserting Estonia's sovereignty and advocating for gradual restoration of its independence.
August 1989: Over 2 million people from Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania formed the Baltic Way, a human chain stretching from Tallinn to Vilnius. The event commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and demonstrated the desire for independence across the Baltic region.
March 1990: Estonia held its first free elections since Soviet occupation, with the newly elected Estonian Supreme Soviet comprising a majority of pro-independence deputies.
May 1990: The Estonian Supreme Soviet declared the sovereignty of Estonia, including the right to determine its own economic and political systems.
January 1991: The Soviet Union attempted a violent crackdown on independence movements in the Baltic states, leading to increased tensions but minimal violence in Estonia.
August 1991: In response to the failed coup attempt by Soviet hardliners in Moscow, Estonia declared its restoration of independence from the Soviet Union on August 20, 1991.
September 1991: The Soviet Union officially recognized Estonia's independence. Estonia was admitted to the United Nations on September 17, 1991.
March 1992: Estonia adopted a new constitution, forming the foundation for democratic governance and a market economy.
June 1992: Estonia held its first post-independence parliamentary elections, leading to the establishment of a new government focused on economic reforms and integration with Western institutions.
August 1994: The last Soviet troops withdrew from Estonia, concluding the withdrawal of Soviet military presence from the country.
1997: Estonia signed an association agreement with the European Union, marking the beginning of future membership.
1998: Estonia formally joined the Partnership for Peace, a NATO program designed to foster relationships with NATO member countries.
2004: Estonia became a member of NATO in March. It joined the European Union in May, solidifying its position in the European community.

These events marked Estonia's transformation from Soviet occupation to a fully independent and sovereign state, integrating into European and international frameworks and establishing itself as a democratic and market-oriented country.

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Estonian people flocked to Tallinn's Song Festival Grounds in the heart of summer '88, demonstrating unity unseen until then during their fight for independence.
The mining plans for phosphorite in Lääne-Viru county by the Soviet government in '87 ignited Estonia's struggle for independence, fueled by increased press freedom.
Brave Estonian journalists, such as Juhan Aare, shed light on the environmental disaster these mining plans posed, sparking an environmental movement.
In May '87, Estonian musicians came together to record "Ei ole üksi ükski maa," a song that became a cornerstone of the independence movement.
The Estonian Group on Publication of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was established in August '87, and their mission was to demand the public release of the pact's secret protocol.
The proposed self-managing Estonia (IME) plan, introduced in autumn '87, aimed to sever Estonia's economic ties with the Soviet Union, embrace a market economy, and develop its own currency and tax system.
By '88, the Estonian populace was actively engaged in politics, voicing their dissatisfaction with the Soviet Estonian leadership at a joint meeting of creative unions.
The Estonian Popular Front was proposed in mid-April '88, with the goal of democratizing the Soviet Union and securing political and economic autonomy for Estonia.
The term "Singing Revolution" was coined by Estonian activist and artist Heinz Valk, highlighting the significance of cultural identity and collective resistance in the fight for Estonian independence.