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On September 4^th, Sergei Ivanov will defend his doctoral thesis in Tallinn University. In his thesis, he researches the under-representation of non-Estonians in state services and the mechanics of symbolic power in Estonian ethnic policies.

Ivanov conducted two separate studies. The first empiric research showed a contradictory process, wherein despite the increase of language abilities, the number of non-Estonians has decreased among state officials: “On the one hand, during the past 20 years, the proportion of non-Estonians in Estonia has increased and their Estonian language skills have developed significantly, but at the same time the proportion of non-Estonian state officials has decreased. In 1993, non-Estonians counted for 12% of the general population and their average percentage in ministries was 4,5%. In 2012, these figures were 19% and 2,8%, respectively. So the difference has risen sevenfold,” Ivanov explains.

This conflict in number was the input needed to focus the second part of the research on the operation mechanics of our political parties. The second and central goal of the thesis was to unveil the mechanics of symbolic power in Estonian ethnic policies via the analyses of the attitudes and evaluation of Parliament members. He analysed their assessment of the lack of non-Estonians in state offices, the current situation, including the under-representation of foreigners, as well as the influence of this situation to the functionality of the society and state. Ivanov used Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of social space and symbolic power to research the logic behind the power of political actors.

The results show that Estonian political elite is clearly divided into two different groups based on their attitude. The politicians with an orientation toward the right see the under-representation as a fault of the minorities and their own skills and knowledge (insufficient language skills, unwillingness to work in state bureaucracy etc.). As the under-representation is directly connected to the minorities themselves, the influence of this situation on the society and the state is considered minimal. Thus, the politicians with a right-wing view do not see the need for the state to get involved in increasing the proportion of non-Estonians in the system.

Politicians with a left bias emphasise the social and political nature of under-representation (political and national cogitations, power struggle between the parties). Representatives of the left-wing opposition assume this situation has a very negative influence on the functionality of the society and state. Thus, left-wing politicians deem it necessary for the state to increase the representation of minorities in governance.

Sergei Ivanov explains: “The strategy of the right is to hide the social reproduction of inequality, by tying its reasons with the low cultural capital of the dominated group, meaning the minorities. This is a way of putting the responsibility for solving social problems on the weaker half. Their strategy is being contradicted by the left-wing strategy, in which the responsibility should be held by the coalition and the problem is based on social and political reasons.”

The doctoral thesis shows that in Estonia, the discussion on the personnel of public service offices is next to none and there are no practical political measures that would compare to those of European countries (e.g. Sweden, Great Britain, etc.), to support ethnic and cultural diversity in state offices and to create mechanisms and tools to promote equal opportunities for minorities in becoming part of the governance system. Ivanov estimates this is something where social scientists can offer a solution: “We should start with a research programme, which would analyse the participation and representation of minorities in civil service. This thesis offers a starting point for that, and also focuses on the development of research on the modus operandi of political parties.”

Sergei Ivanov’s doctoral thesis “Sümboolne võim Eesti etnopoliitikas mitte-eestlaste riigivalitsemises esindatuse näitel / Symbolic Power in the Ethnic Policy of Estonia and the Representation of non-Estonians in the State Governance“ was supervised by professors Raivo Vetik and Mati Heidmets of Tallinn University. His opponents are Professor Emeritus Marju Lauristin from University of Tartu and Professor Tiina Randma-Liiv from Tallinn Technical University.

The doctoral thesis can be read (in Estonian) at the TU Academic e-Library . The public defence will take place on September 4, at 15:00 at Tallinn Univesrity, M-213 (Uus-Sadama 5).