Torn by divided loyalties? - Russian soft power influence in Estonia's Narva amid the Russo-Ukrainian War

Abstract

The city of Narva is Estonia's third largest city, located on the border to Russia. Its inhabitants are largely of Russian origin and many ties to the neighbouring Russia to the east are still existent. When Russia invaded Ukraine for the first time in 2014, breaching the sovereignty of an independent nation, various scholars, journalists, and experts were quick to identify parallels with other geostrategic locations that seemingly resemble the Ukrainian case. For Estonia, the scenario of 'Narva next?' was created. The large proportion of Russophones, economic problems, the legacy of the Soviet oppression and exploitation as well as a societal gap between Estonians and Narvians seemed to make Narva an entry point for Russia's 'green men'. In 2022, Russia is invading Ukraine in a large-scale war, once again showing the violent character of Putin's expansionist ideology. Together with the fear of invasion in the Baltic States, Narva is once again in the spotlight. The Russian influence in NATO and EU member countries is largely exerted through disinformation campaigns, propagated through various media outlets. This dissertation analyses the impact of Russian soft power, both in media, traditions, and cultural ties. The comparison between before and after the invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022,...