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Patterns of continuity and disruption

The specificity of young people's mental structures in three transitional societies

Veronika Kalmus (PhD in Sociology) is associate professor of Media Studies at the Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Tartu, Estonia. Her current research interests are socialization in the informatizing society and value change in the context of societal changes. She has published in Discourse and Society, Journal of Baltic Studies, Journal of Curriculum Studies and Cyberpsychology: Journal of Psychosocial Research on Cyberspace. Address: Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Tartu, 18 Ülikooli St., 50090 Tartu, Estonia. [email: Veronika.Kalmus{at}ut.ee]

Triin Vihalemm

Triin Vihalemm (PhD in Media and Communication) is associate professor of Social Communication at the Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Tartu, Estonia. Her current research interests focus on transformation of ethnic, linguistic, regional and other identities in media and consumer culture. She has published in Nationalities Papers, Journal of Baltic Studies, Journal of Borderlands Studies, Diasporas and Young. Address: Institute of Journalism and Communication, University of Tartu, 18 Ülikooli St., 50090 Tartu, Estonia. [email: Triin.Vihalemm{at}ut.ee]

This article analyzes inter-generational continuity and cultural reproduction in three transitional countries: Estonia, Latvia and the Czech Republic. We compare the levels of internalization of factor structures of self-identification and values among young people and older generations. We focus specifically on a comparison of young people representing the two main ethno-linguistic groups in Estonia and Latvia: ethnic Estonians, or Latvians, and Russians. The data are derived from representative population surveys carried out in the three countries in November 2005 and spring 2006. In general, we observed greater inter-generational continuity in the Czech Republic, compared with Estonia and Latvia. Cultural reproduction among the ethnic minorities in both Baltic countries has been most vulnerable to transitional changes: Russian youngsters differ from their parents to a greater extent than do young Estonians and Latvians from theirs.

Key Words: Estonia • generation • Latvia • self-identification • the Czech Republic • transitional culture • values • young people

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