Õigus, Uus Ilm, and the Estonian Press in Exile as Bellwethers of Independence, 1906-1917

• In Event: Popular Contention and Political Activism in the Tsarist Borderlands: Mapping Political Mobilization of the Inter-Revolutionary Decade: 1907-1917

Abstract

The years spanning the end of the First Russian Revolution and the beginning of the October Revolution were an especially fruitful time for the Estonian political press. Forced to emigrate by violence or volition, Estonian communities in France, the United States and elsewhere were among the most active proponents of a synergetic blend of socialism and nationalism that advocated for political autonomy and even entertained the notion of independence. Two publications in particular exemplify this phenomenon: Õigus, founded in Paris in 1906 and Uus Ilm, founded in New York City in 1909. Though their fates diverged dramatically (the former only lasted two years, while the latter survived until 1989), their common origin led to a shared vocabulary of purpose and overlap in vision. Their primary motivation was to mobilize their compatriots still within the Baltic Provinces against tsarist absolutism. Bereft of local leadership advocating for radical change, the Estonian political press in exile served as the vanguard to foment popular unrest. These efforts failed, but not before framing the contours of the coming debate around Estonian independence that would take place during and after the October Revolution.

Author

• Mark Moll, Indiana U Bloomington