The Implications of the Estonian E - Residency Project on Statehood and Territoriality.

Abstract

The Implications of the Estonian E-Residency Project on Statehood and Territoriality Liis Peets Charles University Prague 2017 Faculty of Social Sciences; Political Studies Programme; Geopolitical Studies Curriculum Academic Supervisor Mgr. Martin Riegl, Ph.D. Abstract In 2014 Estonia became the first country in the world to launch an e-residency project. It is advertised as opening the country's digital borders to the world. This allows for anyone anywhere to apply for an e-resident status and thus gain access to certain parts of the Estonian e-governance platform allowing almost complete location independence when it comes to creating and running a limited company. The e-residency card also gives the holder a secure state guaranteed digital identity. The program has sparked a lot of international interest on both governmental levels in various states as well as in the media. One can find an abundance of claims and expectations regarding what the e-residency project is and what it could be. Many authors in the media claim that the program could quite likely change the meaning of concepts such as citizenship, residency, borders, territoriality and sovereignty. There are also claims that the whole meaning of statehood is under threat and the behavioral logic of countries in fundamentally changing. The paper...