, : Place as a Strategic Tool - Hannah Penner 1

perceived Russian threat, successfully manipulating the Narva, Estonia: Place as a concept of place as a strategic tool.

Strategic Tool This discussion of place would prove mute if it weren’t for the boundary separating and Estonia. The Hannah Penner boundary separating the two nation-states indicates a clear political division. The proximity of Narva to the Russian border, however, results in shared language and 06/04/2018 cultural traits that could potential form a shared identity despite the boundary, which is what Estonian officials are worried Russia will use as justification for invasion. By understanding the concept of boundaries, further comprehension surrounding Narva, Estonia and its rise to cultural competency can be obtained.

Narva, Estonia

By: Hannah Penner

“Narva is next” is a strategic move by Narva’s local government in their bid to be Estonia’s European Capital of Culture in 2024. This creative phrase plays on the fact that Narva, with its high population of Russian speakers and proximity to the Russian boundary, has been labeled at high risk to be “next” on Putin’s hit list following the 2014 invasion of Crimea. Taking the attention away from Narva as a political flashpoint, Estonian officials are attempting to turn it into a cultural hotspot that will bring in private investment, increase EU aid, and integrate the Russian speakers within the town, successfully selling Narva as the “next” cultural hotspot of Eastern Europe.

This strategic celebration of place, or the setting of an individual’s experience, has the potential to be highly effective and highlights a key aspect of geopolitics. In understanding the concept of place, we understand that each person has a strong sense of belonging tied to specific locations. As in this case, location can be the strategic role a place plays. As Estonian officials are going out of their way to highlight the cool cultural components of Narva, a previously unrecognized place, they are trying to foster this sense of belonging in the Russian speakers residing within Narva. As residents of this town celebrate their belonging to an entity that is inherently Estonian, they will begin to form an identity far from a perceived Russian identity that could cause security issues in the future. If successful, Estonian officials will be able to maintain political control and influence against the