Soviet and Post-Soviet Monuments in Estonia

The reinvention of cultural heritage, particularly through monuments and memorials, plays a significant role in shaping collective memory and identity. Elites often exploit cultural heritage to advance their interests, presenting selective historical narratives and legitimizing their authority. However, interpretations of cultural heritage are not fixed and societal resistance can challenge elite intentions. This has been evident in transitional societies characterised by regime change, where multiple historical narratives and identities coexist at the societal level. Estonia's post-Soviet transition has seen conflicts over monuments, reflecting diverse historical narratives and identities. This definition explores the cultural reinvention of cultural heritage in Estonia focusing on monuments and memorials. An analysis of four monuments that serve as a testament to the cultural reinvention of Estonia's monuments and memorials is presented. These monuments offer valuable insights into a four-stage trajectory of cultural reinvention that emerged following Estonia's membership in the European Union and NATO.