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From Future Scenarios to Sovereignty Declarations: Estonian Cyberspeak and the Breakup of the Soviet Union

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  • Juhan Saharov

Abstract

This article shows how, in the middle years of perestroika (1987–1988), the Estonian opposition reform movement used technoscientific vocabulary to strengthen their quest for the republic’s ‘territorial self-management’. To this end, the opposition drew on concepts borrowed from disciplines such as cybernetics, systems theory, future studies and management. The article investigates how two particular concepts, ‘future scenario’ and ‘self-regulation’, were transferred from the scientific field to the Estonian political arena in 1987 and what was their role in pursuing the ‘self-manageable’ status for the republic. The process culminated in November 1988 with the adoption of the Declaration of Sovereignty of the Estonian SSR. This development served as a catalyst for the adoption of similar declarations by other republics, which opened the way to the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Suggested Citation

  • Juhan Saharov, 2022. "From Future Scenarios to Sovereignty Declarations: Estonian Cyberspeak and the Breakup of the Soviet Union," Europe-Asia Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 74(5), pages 809-831, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:ceasxx:v:74:y:2022:i:5:p:809-831
    DOI: 10.1080/09668136.2022.2035320
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