Security project without military scholars: are EKRE and Isamaa real threats?

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications has commissioned a research project linking gender equality and minority issues to security and democratic resilience. Orientalist Peeter Espak argues that the project has provoked criticism from military personnel, state officials and scholars. According to critics, the project labels political parties such as EKRE and Isamaa, and politician Riina Solman, as threats.

The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications (MKM) has announced a research commission through its equality policy department with the full title: "The intersections of gender equality and equal opportunities for minorities with security, national defence and democratic resilience". The project has provoked sharp opposition from Estonian military personnel, state officials, scholars and active citizens.

Orientalist Peeter Espak writes that the story covered by Eesti Ekspress caused serious concern and anger among many who deal with security and national defence on a daily basis. The question is fundamental: what does gender equality and minority policy have to do with national security and military resilience?

According to critics, the project's framing and objectives are worrying. It is well known that military resilience and national security issues are a specific domain requiring the involvement of military scholars, strategic analysis experts and defence policy specialists, not sociological studies commissioned by equality policy bureaucrats.

Particularly sharp criticism has been directed at the fact that the project could label political parties such as EKRE and Isamaa, and politicians associated with them, including Riina Solman, as political threats. This approach raises the question of whether this is a scientific study or a politically motivated document that uses the language of security to discredit domestic political opponents.

According to Espak, another problem is that a study addressing security, which includes no recognised military scholars or defence experts, cannot produce reliable results. This approach distorts both the security discussion and the reputation of scientific research more broadly. Estonia's credibility on national security requires that concepts such as "democratic resilience" should not be used for political games.