Estonia is a country in Northern Europe. It consists of the mainland and 2,222 islands on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea. Throughout much of its history, Estonia has been dominated by foreign powers. After the Second World War, it became a constituent republic of the USSR. In 1991, Estonia declared its independence along with the rest of the Baltic states. Following the Soviet Union’s recognition of Estonia’s independence on September 6, 1991, the Baltic states became members of the United Nations. After the fall of the Soviet Union, Estonia reoriented its economy toward market capitalism and transformed into a parliamentary democracy. Estonia experienced a significant influx of immigration during the second half of the 20th century due to extensive migration and annexation from the Soviet Union in 1940.
Estonia was essentially an industrial region at the height of the Soviet economy, with agriculture making up a smaller share. The agriculture and industry sectors remain essential parts of the Estonian economy. Still, their share of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the labor force has declined while commerce and services have grown. During the transition to a market-based economy, the Estonian economy experienced an initial downturn (falling production, inflation, and unemployment). Still, it recovered by the middle of the 1990s, and it improved some more throughout the following decade.
Below are some fascinating photos from Jens-Olaf Walter show what Estonia looked like in the early 1990s, just after the independence.
I find this interesting. I’m not sure what I would have expected, but it seems pretty standard in general. There are a few pictures here that appear to have been taken in the early 1990s.
The first picture, taken from Tartu’s market building, seems to have been taken in autumn. I also have earliest memories from around the same time and place. My mother and I often walked there together. This is a very cool collection of pictures.
But let it be. Great old days
Unpopular opinion. For those who were at least 15 years old, the 90s were a good time. New horizons, freedom, etc.
The 90s weren’t good for me as a kid. My home was safe, and my family was normal, but outside the window were criminals, ugly buildings, and an aggressive environment. My “bad” has not become “good”, I just came into being when this monster was falling apart, people injecting themselves on the streets in the middle of the day, and women were raped and killed at night.
I partially agree, we’re probably about the same age. But hasn’t much of what has been described improved since then?
Life has been made better by understanding history and its perspective. It doesn’t mean, however, that I’m happy about the 90s. We won’t indulge in nostalgia under any circumstances. Those nostalgic for the 90s and the USSR can visit PTS.