Geopolitical Crisis, Memory, and Media: Navigating Identity and Political Engagement in the Baltic Sea Region

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

This panel brings together four studies that explore the intersection of media, memory, identity, and political behavior in Estonia, Latvia and Finland, particularly in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine and its far-reaching impacts on national and ethnic communities. The papers examine how geopolitical crises shape media consumption, audience perceptions, and collective identities across diverse sociopolitical landscapes.

The first paper explores how Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reshaped media perceptions among ethno-linguistic majorities and minorities in the Baltics, highlighting the significance of understanding broader societal and political frameworks. The second study delves into the construction and reinterpretation of Finnish-Russian historical memory among Russian-speaking communities in Finland, examining the role of migration, integration, and shifting national policies on identity and heritage. The third paper investigates news consumption choices in Estonia, unpacking the motivations behind media selection and the resulting impact on political engagement, offering insights into the relationship between media and political behavior. Finally, the fourth study examines the identities and memories of young Russian speakers in Latvia, exploring how the war in Ukraine challenges their sense of belonging and shapes their historical narratives.

Together, these studies offer a nuanced understanding of how individuals and communities navigate their identities and political participation amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, contributing to the broader field of media, memory, and political communication studies.

Sub Unit

• International Relations, Security Studies, Foreign Policy

Chair

• Emma Rönngren, Örebro U (Sweden)

Papers

• Making Sense of Media at the Times of Geopolitical Crisis: The Case of Ethno-Linguistic Majority and Minority Audiences in the Baltics - Janis Juzefovics, Riga Stradins U (Latvia)

• A Garden of Forking Paths: Pathways to Alternative Media Choice and Corresponding Political Behavior in Estonia - Noel Foster, US Naval War College

• Memory and identity in Turbulent Times: Young Russian Speakers in Latvia Amidst the War in Ukraine - Emma Rönngren, Örebro U (Sweden)

• Finnish-Russian Historical Entanglements in the Memory of Russian Speakers in Finland: Identity, Belonging, and Contestation - Susan Gamelton

Discussant

• Jennie Schulze, Duquesne U