Democracy versus nation-state? : the Estonian case-study

Abstract

This paper seeks to highlight if both concepts of polyarchy and ethnos nation-state may reconcile in practice despite their inner theoretical contradiction. Our Estonian case-study reveals that the definition of national identity according to ethnic cores prevents the state to take positive state duties towards ideal democratic conditions, and so any reconciliation to take place. Indeed, the consequent ethnic nationalism and monopoly of the cultural domain do undermine both inclusiveness and effective participation democratic conditions, while lessening non-members of the core nation's both psychological and material resources, thus entailing their selfwithdrawal