Maarja Vaino: Why a Small Nation Must Know Its History

Literary scholar Maarja Vaino discusses why historical awareness is vital for a small nation. History, along with language and traditions, is what transforms a group of people into a nation. Without a shared historical experience, it is impossible to preserve national identity.

Literary scholar and cultural historian Maarja Vaino raises the question in her Vikerraadio daily commentary about what history means for a small nation and why this knowledge cannot be lightly dismissed.

According to Vaino, history, along with language and traditions, is one of the foundations that transforms a group of people into a complete nation. It is a shared treasure through which we exchange experiences, remember what we have lived through, and understand ourselves. Without it, we lose the understanding of who we are and where we come from.

In her commentary, Vaino emphasises that national identity cannot be created overnight. Without a historical perspective-that shared knowledge passed down from generation to generation-it is impossible to truly identify with another nation or culture. History is not merely a collection of facts, but a living connection between the past and the present.

For Estonia as a small nation, this subject is particularly relevant. Preserving its own language and history has been a matter of survival through the centuries, both during the national awakening and in more difficult periods of occupation. Vaino's message is clear: knowing history is not a privilege, but a responsibility that each generation must bear itself.