Konstantin Päts and ethnic minorities: The political trajectory of an Estonian nationalist authoritarian leader

• In Event: Interwar Estonian Authoritarianism

Abstract

Konstantin Päts (1874-1956) was undoubtedly the most influential Estonian of the first half of the Twentieth Century. He was a leader of the national movement prior to World War One, a founding father of the republic, the first prime minister, its only president and authoritarian ruler, and the one who decided the fate of Estonia at the start of the Second World War. Considering his impact on modern Estonia, it is certainly worthwhile to examine his relationship with Estonia’s ethnic minorities. While there have been studies on Päts’ politics, there has been no research specifically of his relationship with Estonia’s ethnic minorities. This paper aims to shed light on this relationship by examining Päts’ actions at key milestones of his political trajectory. It advances the argument that despite being a nationalist and authoritarian ruler, Päts was in fact quite pragmatic in his views and dealings with Estonia’s ethnic minorities. This is not intended as an exhaustive study, but highlighting chronologically key periods and events in Päts’ political evolution: prior to 1917, the achievement of independence, the cultural autonomy law of 1925, the state of emergency in 1934, and the new constitution in 1938.

Short Bio

Andres Kasekamp is Chair of Estonian Studies and Professor of History at the Munk School of Global Affairs at the University of Toronto. Previously he was Professor of Baltic Politics at the University of Tartu. He is the author of the award-winning book "A History of the Baltic States". He has served as the President of the Association for the Advancement of Baltic Studies and is currently Consul of the AABS Board.

Author

• Andres Kasekamp, University of Toronto