Institute of Political Science and Governance  

Ongoing Projects

TENSIONS - Post-Soviet Tensions: A Training Programme in Post-Soviet Affairs for Early Career Researchers 

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Europeanization in Estonian education policy: a study of adaptation capacity of political actors - The research project aims to study interaction of the EU and national (Estonian) education policies by focusing on adaptation capacity of domestic political actors. The main objective is to find out, whether increasing interest of the EU in the field of education has changed positions of domestic political actors, configuration of their relations and their capacity to implement their interests in policy agenda. In order to achieve the objective three main research questions are constructed. The first deals with timing, studying whether, when and how European education policy rhetoric has changed domestic debates. The second analyses positions and interaction of national actors focusing especially on dynamics of relations. The third question explores efficiency issue to define factors that determine successful implementation of interests in policy agenda. Theoretical framework is grounded on three different strands of thinking. Firstly, according to the concept of Europeanization the EU has brought to the significant transformation in domestic policy making patterns. Secondly, institutional theory argues that institutional design and internal norms have significant explanatory power in understanding behaviour of political actors and thirdly, the policy transfer approach stresses motivation of domestic political actors to learn lessons abroad as the important factor of policy change. The core theoretical assumption of the study is that strongly institutionalised actors are able to use EU education policy rhetoric and benchmarks more efficiently in implementing their interests. I.e., their adaptation capacity is higher than capacity of fragmented and poorly organised actors. Documentary analysis and expert interviews are used as the research methods. The sample consists of three types of documents in 1998 - 2008: printed national periodicals in the field of education, parliamentary records and EU policy documents. 20 civil servants in education policy agencies and the same number of experts in non-governmental agencies will be sampled for expert interviews. From the practical point of view the project contributes to the responsive policy-making. From theoretical perspective it adds to the better understanding of national policy dynamics and interaction between the EU and national level of governance. As result of the project r three articles in international referee journals will be written and an input material for the 7 FP grant proposal will be collected.

Estonian Science Foundation Grant 2009-2010. Theme leader Prof. Anu Toots.

IEA International Civic and Citizenship Education Study - The purpose of the International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) is to investigate the ways in which young people are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens in a range of countries. The study builds on the previous IEA study of civic education (CIVED) undertaken in 1999. It will report on student achievement on a test of conceptual understandings and competencies in civic and citizenship education. It will also collect and analyze data about student dispositions and attitudes relating to civic and citizenship education. Teacher and school questionnaires will gather information about teaching and class management practices, school governance and climate, and others.

Grant of Estonian Ministry of Education and Research 2007-2010. Theme leader Prof. Anu Toots.

Trans-Net: Transnationalisation, Migration and Transformation: Multi-Level Analysis of Migrant Transnationalism Call FP7-SSH-2007-1 - The objective of this project is to clarfy and compare the multi-level processes of trans-nationalism. The topic is of great importance and topically due to the rapid growth in people's transnational linkages and mobility. Though increasingly important the question of transantionalism is still poorly understood. This proposed three-year research project will investigate structural factors realted to the complex phenomena surrounding transnational migration and their implications for the people's everyday life. This research will be conducted in Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, India, Morocco, Turkey, and United Kingdom. The main research question is: How do migrants` activites across national borders emerge, funcion, and change, and how are they related to the processes of governance in increasingly complex and interconnected world?

Project of 7. FP Coopertaion Prgramme 2008-2011. Theme leader Prof. Rein Ruutsoo.

Integration of Second Generation Russians in Estonia - The proposed study looks at the patterns of integration of second generation Russians (i.e. Russian youth who have been borne in Estonia but whose parents (at least one of them) have immigrated to Estonia) and the policies that have and are being developed to support their integration. The central concept of the proposed study is integration, understood as the process by which minorities are incorporated into both the structures and the society of the receiving state. We differentiate between structural, cultural, social and identificational integration and study the relationship between these four different dimensions of integration, and thus the “patterns of integration” that characterize Estonia. We study the relationship along the models of linear integration and segmented integration in order to determine which model describes best the patterns of integration among second generation Russians. This project will treat these two models of integration as alternative hypotheses regarding the integration patterns of immigrants. The proposed study combines quantitative and qualitative analysis: sociological survey and policy study. The project draws inspiration from the international research project ‘The Integration of the European Second Generation’ (TIES) following the concepts, definitions, indicators, and questionnaire modules of the TIES project. The target group of the survey consists of second generation Russians aged 18-35, and they will be compared to the native-born group of the same age. The policy study includes analysis of Estonian national and local level integration policies, as well as generic policies (on development of educational systems and linkage between educational system and labour market). Policy analysis will be based on qualitative study of primary sources: integration programs, stakeholders, and financing schemes, and on interviews with both policymakers and those in charge of implementation. The interviews will be carried out in order to better understand both the ideology driving the policy packages and the challenges regarding implementation.

Estonian Science Foundation Grant 2008-2010. Theme leader Prof. Raivo Vetik.

The Integration of the European Second Generation TIES - TIES project seeks to develop a research and training framework on European level by familiarizing 12 early-stage researchers and 2 experienced researchers from 12 leading research institutions in migration and ethnic studies. Its ambition is to deepen understanding of integration processes by testing theoretical hypotheses with empirical findings based on international survey carried out among the second generation immigrants (Turks, Moroccans and Ex-Yugoslavians) and natives in the 18 to 35 age category in 15 cities in 8 countries (Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, belgium, Austria and Switzerland). The international standardized survey offers a truly comparative insight in the actual integration processes across countries enabling the researchers to analyze the varying modes and patterns of economical and socio-cultural integration of second generation immigrant youth.

Project of 6. FP Marie Curie Research Training Networks 2006-2010. Theme leader Prof. Raivo Vetik.

More information about research and development projects of Institute of Political Science and Governance.