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The goal of this article is to identify the lacunae in recent research about post-Communist transformations in the Baltic states, a task for which sociology as a social-scientific discipline is uniquely qualified. The paper starts by periodising the two decades of post-Communist transformation which applies across all three Baltic states, providing evidence for a common Baltic way, with Estonia in a pioneering role. This is corroborated by quantitative evidence comparing post-Communist countries in terms of performance. According to received transitological wisdom, economic or political processes (shock therapy or anti-Communist revolution) were decisive factors in the early success of post-Communist transformation. In contrast, this article argues that economic and political explanations are insufficient in accounting for the running order between Baltic states, and calls instead for sociological explanations focusing on cultural differences described in terms of four orientations of the social imaginary and of social action – continuational, restitutive, emulative and innovative.

The goal of this article is to identify the lacunae in recent research about post-Communist transformations in the Baltic states, a task for which sociology as a social-scientific discipline is uniquely qualified. The paper starts by periodising the two decades of post-Communist transformation which applies across all three Baltic states, providing evidence for a common Baltic way, with Estonia in a pioneering role. This is corroborated by quantitative evidence comparing post-Communist countries in terms of performance. According to received transitological wisdom, economic or political processes (shock therapy or anti-Communist revolution) were decisive factors in the early success of post-Communist transformation. In contrast, this article argues that economic and political explanations are insufficient in accounting for the running order between Baltic states, and calls instead for sociological explanations focusing on cultural differences described in terms of four orientations of the social imaginary and of social action – continuational, restitutive, emulative and innovative. ; Straipsnio tikslas yra išryškinti tas properšas tyrimais sukauptose žiniose apie pokomunistinę transformaciją Baltijos šalyse, kurias gali užpildyti tik sociologija. Straipsnis pradedamas dviejų pokomunistinės transformacijos dekadų periodizacija, kuri tinka visų trijų Baltjos valstybių naujausiai istorijai, įrodo bendro Baltijos kelio egzistavimą bei išryškina Estijos pirmavimą. Paskutinę išvadą patvirtina kiekybiniai duomenis apie pokomunistinių šalių transformacijos lyginamuosius pasiekimus. Įtakingiausios tranzitologinės koncepcijos teigia, kad pokomunistinės transformacijos sėkmę lėmė ekonominės (šoko terapija) arba politinės (antikomunistinė revoliucija) priežastys. Autoriai argumentuoja, kad nei ekonominiai, nei politologiniai aiškinimai nėra pakankami atskleisti Baltijos šalių raidos netolygumo priežastis, pasisakydami už sociologinį aiškinimą, kuris nukreipia dėmesį į kultūrinius skirtumus, aprašomus keturių socialinės vaizduotės ir socialinio veiksmo orientacijų (kontinuacinės, restitucinės, mimetinės ir inovacinės) terminais.

The goal of this article is to identify the lacunae in recent research about post-Communist transformations in the Baltic states, a task for which sociology as a social-scientific discipline is uniquely qualified. The paper starts by periodising the two decades of post-Communist transformation which applies across all three Baltic states, providing evidence for a common Baltic way, with Estonia in a pioneering role. This is corroborated by quantitative evidence comparing post-Communist countries in terms of performance. According to received transitological wisdom, economic or political processes (shock therapy or anti-Communist revolution) were decisive factors in the early success of post-Communist transformation. In contrast, this article argues that economic and political explanations are insufficient in accounting for the running order between Baltic states, and calls instead for sociological explanations focusing on cultural differences described in terms of four orientations of the social imaginary and of social action – continuational, restitutive, emulative and innovative.

The goal of this article is to identify the lacunae in recent research about post-Communist transformations in the Baltic states, a task for which sociology as a social-scientific discipline is uniquely qualified. The paper starts by periodising the two decades of post-Communist transformation which applies across all three Baltic states, providing evidence for a common Baltic way, with Estonia in a pioneering role. This is corroborated by quantitative evidence comparing post-Communist countries in terms of performance. According to received transitological wisdom, economic or political processes (shock therapy or anti-Communist revolution) were decisive factors in the early success of post-Communist transformation. In contrast, this article argues that economic and political explanations are insufficient in accounting for the running order between Baltic states, and calls instead for sociological explanations focusing on cultural differences described in terms of four orientations of the social imaginary and of social action – continuational, restitutive, emulative and innovative.

The goal of this article is to identify the lacunae in recent research about post-Communist transformations in the Baltic states, a task for which sociology as a social-scientific discipline is uniquely qualified. The paper starts by periodising the two decades of post-Communist transformation which applies across all three Baltic states, providing evidence for a common Baltic way, with Estonia in a pioneering role. This is corroborated by quantitative evidence comparing post-Communist countries in terms of performance. According to received transitological wisdom, economic or political processes (shock therapy or anti-Communist revolution) were decisive factors in the early success of post-Communist transformation. In contrast, this article argues that economic and political explanations are insufficient in accounting for the running order between Baltic states, and calls instead for sociological explanations focusing on cultural differences described in terms of four orientations of the social imaginary and of social action – continuational, restitutive, emulative and innovative.

This collective monograph offers a reflexive review of the transformations in Estonian society, particularly by using the lens of social morphogenetic analysis developed by Margaret Archer and her co-workers. Based on empirical data from the 5-wave representative survey "Me. The World. The Media", research synthesised in this book focuses on the outcomes of complex changes after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the restoration of the independent state of Estonia. In almost three decades, the authors have had a chance to observe and analyse the so-called "historical experiment" that took place in the North-Eastern part of Europe – political and economic transition, technological transformation, and digitalisation. The analysis covers the main topics of people's life-worlds (socio-economic conditions, civic and political participation, culture, media, environment, consumption, lifestyles, time use, identities, etc.) and attitudes towards a rapidly changing society (perceived risks and benefits). The book aims to re-conceptualise the main results of the empirical studies from the last two decades by synthesising different theoretical perspectives on social change and transformation.

The book examines the transformation of the life-world in the context of the rapidly changing Estonian society. The authors pose three main questions to be discussed throughout the book: What has happened in the Estonian society during the last decade? How to describe the present society? Who shapes the social developments and in which direction? The authors formulate three main theses: (1) the great transformation occurring on the macro level is reflected in the life-world as changes in the temporal and spatial dimensions and the multiplicity of individuals' social identifications in the context of new opportunities. This brings about social and cultural fragmentation of the society and a clear differentiation and polarisation of mental structures; (2) the inherently conflictual nature of transformation is expressed in socially differentiating self-positioning, dependent on the resources individuals possess for coping with changes, and leading to the re-stratification of the society (re-structuration); (3) the acceleration of social and personal time and the opening of social space, on one hand, and social stratification, on the other hand, perform as mutual amplifiers. The authors conclude that the first wave of transitional controversies between more and less capitalised social groups is receding due to increasing general welfare. At the same time, global technological and cultural changes, migration crises, and increasing violence and terrorism have brought about new controversies and challenges in Estonian society.

"In Chapter 5, the empirical qualitative material gathered within the AIM project is reviewed from two different angles. On the one hand, the European media debate an the European public sphere (EPS) is assessed. On the other hand, Interviews with spokespersons of the EU Commission and the EU Commission's strategic documents concerning communication are analysed in order to understand the gap between journalistic and EU institutional approaches to the concept of the EPS." (author's abstract)

"In this chapter, major problem areas of the daily news and information 'machinery' concerning EU politics as analysed by the AIM project are being described and analysed. The chapter shows that the theoretical model of European communication concerning political decision-making is not in line with research results concerning the existing practice of information and news management. Instead of a two-step process, i.e., the traditional flow of information, there exists a three-step one. Based an insights gained through the AIM project, a fundamental conclusion is that the weaker side of EU reporting lies in the analytical capacity involved at the second level of mediation, enacted by Brussels correspondents. Indeed, Brussels correspondents participate in various communication 'circles', which create specific 'interpretative communities', whose judgments become crucial in conveying EU information from Brussels to the national level." (author's abstract)