Place Attachment in Rural Estonia: Qualitative Samples from Lustivere, Adavere and Obinitsa
ESTONIAN UNIVERSITY OF LIFE SCIENCES Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Enri Uusna PLACE ATTACHMENT IN RURAL ESTONIA: QUALITATIVE SAMPLES FROM LUSTIVERE, ADAVERE AND OBINITSA KOHASEOTUS EESTI MAAPIIRKONDADES: KVALITATIIVNE VALIMIUURING LUSTIVERE, ADAVERE JA OBINITSA NÄITEL THE THESIS For applying the degree of Master of Science in Landscape Protection and Preservation Supervisor: Mart Külvik PhD Co-supervisor: Joanna Storie MSc Tartu 2015 ABSTRACT Modern Estonia represents a Post-Soviet society where the framework of participation in local communities is not well organised. This absence in participation practices is related to the lack of participation in the Soviet era and the unawareness of the people-place relationships within the local authorities hampers the successful introduction of participatory practices. To understand these people-place relationships the theory of place attachment (or sense of place) was applied, through Scannell and Gifford‟s “Person-Process-Place” model. A total of 23 qualitative semi-structured interviews were conducted in the study areas of Lustivere, Adavere and Obinitsa to answer 2 research questions: (1) Which factors strengthen or weaken the place attachment of the inhabitants of the study areas; (2) How do these factors influence the inhabitants‟ will to participate in local development processes? Place attachment in Lustivere was demonstrated through the feelings and cognitional experiences of the locals, the cultural setting, the community and the environment, whilst poor local infrastructure was the main issue. Obinitsa strengths were the feelings and cognitional experiences of the locals, the cultural setting, the community and the environment, with the main issue being discord in the local municipal council. The local environment was highlighted in Adavere, but exhibited issues within the local community, culture and infrastructure.
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