POST-SOVIET TERRITORIAL CONFLICTS IN MOLDOVA AND ESTONIA: WHEN POLITICAL ELITES CAN LEARN FROM THE MUTUAL MISTAKES

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of territorial confl icts in two countries of the former USSR – Moldova and Estonia in 1989-1994. Within the framework of the study, we conducted fi ve expert interviews with respondents, who was directly involved in resolving the confl icts in Chisinau, Transnistria and Gagauzia. The publications in Internet publications about the referendum in Narva in 1993, its preparation and consequences were also analyzed. Based on the conducted research, it was revealed that on the eve of the referendum on autonomy in Narva, authorities of Estonia and the administration of the city council of Narva visited Moldova, including Transnistria. This experience of the confl ict in Transnistria let them take certain steps to ease tensions in Eastern Estonia. Later, this Estonian experience was already applied by Moldovan politicians in the process of relieving tension in the situation of Gagauzia. The detected interaction of political elites of Moldova and Transnistria is viewed from the perspective of the concept of “policy learning” by Hugh Heclo and Richard Rose.

Keywords

• territorial confl ict
• ex-ussr countries
• moldova
• transnistria
• gagauzia
• estonia
• narva
• concept of “policy learning”
• collaboration elite