General information
I hold national conservative views, and my ideal is a Europe of nation states. Estonia is a part of our common European home. When we make Estonia better, we also make the whole Europe better.
However, our Estonian state is becoming alienated from the Estonian values. Immigration from eastern countries has increased drastically. The number of births in Estonia has fallen to the lowest level of the last 150 years. English is predominant in higher education institutions and the quality of studying in them has deteriorated. Increasingly more decisions concerning Estonia are being made outside Estonia. Maybe these degeneration processes in our society are inevitable. However, if this is the case, I would like to be sure that it is our informed choice. Citizens must be given an opportunity to express their opinion clearly, or in other words, the possibility to initiate binding referenda must be returned to our society.
University of Tartu, history 1987, PhD (history) 2003
University of Tartu: Faculty of Philosophy, Department of History, Lecturer 1995–2004, Institute of History and Archaeology, Associate Professor 2004–, Viljandi Cultural Academy, Research Director, Expert in Research Competence 2005–2012;
Estonian State Archives / National Archives, Research Adviser, Head of Department, Deputy Director 1996–2000, County Archivist, Project Manager 2002–2011;
Ministry of the Interior, Acting Head of Department, Head of Department 2000–2002;
Tallinn University, Estonian Institute for Population Studies, Research Professor 2005–2018
Estonian Conservative People’s Party 2018–2024;
Estonian Nationalists and Conservatives 2024–
Tartu City Council 2021–2024, 2025
Annual History Book Prize 2003;
journal Akadeemia award in humaniora (Silver Award) 2007;
Best Article Prize of journal Tuna 2007;
Lennart Meri Research Prize 2014;
Tallinn University Best Monograph Prize 2015
Foundation for Direct Democracy Terve Rahvas, Supervisory Board, Chair 2015–2022;
published more than 60 scientific articles, and books “Poliitilise mõtte ajaloost Eestis aastatel 1930–1940. Dokumente ja materjale” (“History of Political Thought in Estonia in 1930–1940. Documents and Materials”) 1995 (one of the compilers);
“Economic Nationalism and Industrial Growth. State and Industry in Estonia 1934–39” 1998 (co-author);
“Lahtirakendamine. Eesti Vabariigi majanduse stabiliseerimine 1918–1924” (“Breaking away from Russia: Economic Stabilisation in Estonia 1918–1924”) 2003 (in English 2006);
“Juurdepääsupiirangud arhivaalidele Euroopas ja Venemaal. Ajalooline kujunemine ja tänapäev” (“Access Restrictions to Archival Records in Europe and Russia. Historical Development and Today”) 2005 (one of the authors);
“Eesti rahvastiku majandustegevuse näitarve XX sajandil” (“Economic Activities Indicators of the People of Estonia in the 20th Century”) 2007 (one of the authors, editor);
“Eesti autoveondusest sõnas ja pildis. XX sajandi algusest tänapäevani” (“Estonian Road Transport in Word and Picture. From the Beginning of the 20th Century up to Present Day”) 2008 (one of the compilers);
“Üleilmastumine ja globaalprobleemid” (“Globalisation and Global Problems”) 2009 (co-author);
“Punased I” (“Reds I”) 2014;
“Eesti parlament 1917–1940. Poliitiline ajalugu” (“The Parliament of Estonia in 1917–1940. Political History”) 2019;
“Monumendid ja võim” (“Monuments and Power”) (also in English and Russian) 2020 (one of the authors);
“Teisiti mõtleja märkmeid” (“Notes of a Dissenter”) 2024;
published numerous essays, criticism, and articles in the press