Ecologizing the Nation

By analyzing media debates over nature-related conflicts in Estonia in the last couple of decades, we explore the interactions between the state, environmental organizations, and creative intelligentsia. Our analysis points to the development of a new national-cultural set of ideas and actions about nature and environmental ethics, which can be interpreted as an example of ecologization. By ecologization we mean the entanglement of nature-related spheres of life, which results in a two-way interaction process, where ideas and imaginaries about nature influence life events and help to produce ideas and imaginaries. Within ecologization, we identify two sub-processes: the heritagization of ‘sacred places’, characterized by connections to identity politics, spirituality and a loose sacredness derived from the authenticity of heritage. As a result, a vague normative attitude embracing a love of nature has emerged as well as a politicization of environmental organizations and the formation of new civil society alliances.