The conference brought together more than two hundred participants – researchers, politicians, and civil society representatives – to discuss solutions that would help find common ground amid differences.

According to Minister of Culture Heidy Purga, finding a balance between unity and diversity is a major challenge for every democratic society. “The strength of a society lies in its ability to engage and listen. Unity does not mean that everyone should think alike, but that we can maintain a common value framework even when our views and experiences differ,” said Purga. “Democracy is not confined to political institutions – it lives in people’s everyday decisions, in the ways we interact and value each other.”

According to Dmitri Moskovtsev, Director of the Integration Foundation, growing diversity presents new challenges for Estonian society. “The question is whether we see this as a problem or as potential and opportunities for development. This mindset is what determines whether we will amplify potential tensions or focus on solutions. It is important to understand how well we can create conditions that support the inclusion and sense of belonging of people from different backgrounds,” said Moskovtsev.

OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities Christophe Kamp highlighted Estonia’s evidence-based approach and language immersion programme, which has helped children from different backgrounds to succeed in Estonian-language education and reduced the risk of stratification. According to him, such solutions have also served as an example for other countries. Kamp also emphasised the importance of small everyday deeds by active members of the community – from teachers to local community leaders – that help people feel a sense of belonging in Estonian society.

Kerry McCall Magan, Country Director for British Council Ireland, highlighted in her presentation the role of cultural cooperation in building connections and trust. According to her, the experience of different countries has shown that the most effective initiatives are those that bring people together – educational projects, creative programmes, development of media literacy, and cross-border initiatives. These help different communities better understand each other and create a basis for strengthening trust, which has also been significant in relations between Ireland and the United Kingdom.

In the panel discussion “The resilience of democracy – a dream or societal choice?”, Professor Zsuzsa Csergő (Queen’s University, Canada), Dr Marina Nord (V-Dem Institute, University of Gothenburg, Sweden), and Professor Stefano Braghiroli (University of Tartu) discussed the ability of democratic countries to function in a situation where polarisation and global crises are increasing tension in societies. The discussion highlighted that the resilience of democracy depends both on the meaningful engagement of minorities and on institutions that create space for participation and dialogue between different groups. Participants presented recent data on the global decline of democracy but emphasised that this trend can be reversed if societies recognise warning signs early on and maintain a culture of meaningful discussion. 

In his lecture “What is democratic resilience and how can we strengthen it?”, Professor Dr Wolfgang Merkel (Berlin Social Science Centre) pointed out that successive crises make democracies more vulnerable and that stability is maintained by a balance between institutions, political actors, and communities. According to Merkel, the resilience of democracy needs to be strengthened through dialogue and inclusion.

The political debate of Estonian parliamentary parties included Raimond Kaljulaid (SDE), Lea Danilson-Järg (Isamaa), Maria Jufereva-Skuratovski (Reform Party), Vadim Belobrovtsev (Centre Party), Mart Kallas (EKRE), and Aleksei Jašin (Eesti 200). The discussion focused on the decline in the sense of belonging, the impact of crises, and why political decisions should be made more transparent to the public. Several speakers emphasised the importance of broader dialogue and public involvement, noting that in the long term the transition to Estonian-language education will also help to increase cohesion.

In the panel discussion “Sense of belonging and social cohesion – what comes first?”, Dr Anneli Portman (Finnish Institute of Health and Welfare), Dr Olha Mukha (Institute of Resilience & Reconstruction, UK/Ukraine), Prof. Andero Uusberg (University of Tartu), and Kristjan Kaldur (Institute of Baltic Studies), emphasised that a sense of belonging is shaped by people’s everyday experiences, their value framework, and relationships within their community, and is closely linked to the information environment, political choices, and group identity.

You can watch the conference here: Integration Conference 2025

The decline in the sense of belonging among Estonians as well as people of other nationalities living here should not be taken lightly or seen as inevitable. A sensible balance must be struck between societal unity and societal diversity, say Marianna Makarova and Olga Sõtnik, experts on social cohesion and migration, on the Radio Kuku programme Kirillitsas Eesti (Estonia in Cyrillic).

‘The question “where does the sense of belonging begin?” is similar to asking which came first, the chicken or the egg,’ compares Marianna Makarova, Programme Manager of the International Conference of Integration at the Integration Foundation. ‘Does it start from the moment I decide to be a part of society and do something myself? Or does the sense of belonging arise from being accepted, which makes me feel welcome and cared for?’

There is no single answer to the chicken-or-egg question, and neither does the issue of the sense of belonging. However, a worrying trend has emerged: people’s assessment of their sense of belonging has declined markedly over the past few years, as data confirms. ‘In 2022, 93 per cent of Estonians responded they felt that they belonged to the Estonian society, and 74 per cent of them were absolutely certain of this, while today, the respective figures are 83 per cent and 50 per cent – in other words, only half of Estonians are certain of their sense of belonging. Among people of other ethnicities, the change has been even more drastic: the proportion of those who report even some sense of belonging has fallen from 74% to 44%, while the proportion of those who feel no sense of belonging has risen to 31%,’ says Makarova.

Is this something to worry about?

‘I would take it seriously,’ she says firmly. ‘The sense of belonging is the basis of a protective attitude towards one’s locality or country – to preserve and, if necessary, defend it. A diminished sense of belonging, however, is a silent sign of alienation. People who feel that they belong to society are also far less receptive to conflict-laden and socially divisive messages. If something goes wrong in their life, they are less likely to assume that injustice or someone’s malice is behind it. Their sense of belonging is a source of security, which helps people take responsibility for their own lives and to act constructively and collectively.’ 

‘Are you going to love Estonia?’

According to Olga Sõtnik, head of the UNHCR office in Estonia, it is clear that people’s emotions have been affected by the nearby war and the fears and divisions it has caused. ‘A sense of belonging arises when people feel that they belong together – that they have something in common that is more important than their differences. When people of different nationalities and cultures share common values, feel safe, and have the opportunity to participate in decision-making, this creates all the prerequisites for a sense of unity and belonging in the society.’

Tens of thousands of people have fled to Estonia because of the war. But do we know anything of their mindset or sense of unity? Sõtnik explains that it is important to distinguish between different categories of migration and to understand that refugees are not questioned about their attitude on arrival because they are in a forced situation.

‘Refugees are a special category of migrants who are forced to leave their homes – they leave because there is a war in their home country, or they face the death penalty due to their “wrong” political views, or they are of a different religion. When a person arrives at the border and asks for asylum, no one will ask them if they are going to love Estonia. It is not a relevant question at that moment – the important thing is to help the person, to give them a sense of security.’

Adaptation and integration will take place over time after arrival and are largely individual. ‘Some people integrate very well and adopt the rules of their new home country, others not so well,’ Sõtnik notes, adding that there are many more of those who adapt successfully, although these stories are not as prominent.

‘Unfortunately, both Estonian and foreign media tend to cover cases of failure where people cannot cope, where the new situation has proved so unacceptable that the person has committed a crime or gone down a bad path. Negative cases are highlighted, while there are tens of thousands of people who are doing well, contributing to their new communities and societies – people who are working and whose children are in school. But these stories go unreported,’ she says, describing the reasons why the image of integration of refugees may be biased.

‘It’s like with aeroplanes – if one plane crashes, it is a big scandal that’s reported everywhere, but while tens of thousands of planes fly in the sky and land safely, nobody talks about it.’

In search of balance

Building a sense of unity is one of the topics that will be addressed at the Conference of Integration on 12 November. Internationally renowned experts, academics, and practitioners from Estonia and beyond will address key integration challenges and provide examples of successful practices. Now in its 12th year, this year’s edition of the Conference of Integration will take place under the theme ‘Unity and Diversity – Searching for Balance’.

‘The current security situation requires us to be united. There is a constant need to make quick decisions. To do that, we need to be on the same page immediately, without taking time to reflect, consider, and resolve our differences. Diversity, however, is a natural part of democracy, and it is important to resolve differences through open dialogue where everyone has the right to ask questions and get answers, and to raise their voices where necessary, so that no one’s rights or needs are systematically overlooked – this is an essential source of democratic resilience,’ Makarova discusses, reflecting on the key focus of the conference. ‘And on the other hand, how do we keep healthy diversity alive? By valuing differences – it’s important to keep in mind the principles and values that unite us as a society. We all have our own opinions and views, too, but on social media, we tend to get stuck in information bubbles. So where is the place for us to come together as a society to reach consensus through dialogue? At the conference, we’re going to seek a balance between those challenges through lectures and discussions.’

Listen to the Radio Kuku programme Kirillitsas Eesti of 23 October here.

Partners of the Integration Foundation work hard every day to ensure that newly arrived immigrants living in Estonia receive the support they need and feel at home here. In this series of stories, we give them a voice to talk about the joys, challenges, and lessons learned in their work. This time, we will share the thoughts of Kirill Badikin, who leads crisis management efforts at the Estonian Red Cross and actively manages the Facebook group ‘Ukraina sõbrad Eestis’ (Friends of Ukraine in Estonia).

‘When defenders and heroes fighting in Ukraine know that their loved ones are being cared for and supported in a foreign country, it helps them focus on defending their country and people instead of worrying about their families,’ says Kirill Badikin, member of the board and crisis manager at the Estonian Red Cross and administrator of the Facebook community ‘Friends of Ukraine in Estonia’, explaining what motivates him in his work. 

Kirill's journey into the field of adaptation began in the spring of 2022, when Russia launched a full-scale war in Ukraine. ‘I felt that I couldn’t just stand by and watch,’ he recalls. Initially, he assisted the Estonian Red Cross with sorting and assembling humanitarian aid and providing psychological first aid. He then helped register refugees arriving from Ukraine at the reception centre for war refugees in Tallinn and provided them with information on how to adapt to their new surroundings. Before long, he was answering hundreds of calls on the information hotline of the Estonian Refugee Council and advising refugees in temporary accommodation facilities.

Kirill currently works as a member of the board and crisis manager at the Estonian Red Cross, and remains active as a community leader on social media. Thanks to his efforts, the ‘Friends of Ukraine in Estonia’ Facebook group has become one of the most successful channels of information and support, helping Ukrainians find their way into Estonian society.

Working for the benefit of people

People have always been at the heart of Kirill’s work. His work is primarily focused on Ukrainian war refugees, but through the Estonian Red Cross, he also reaches many other target groups, including labour and family migrants, beneficiaries of international protection, and third-country nationals.

‘People with disabilities or serious illnesses often find it more difficult to adapt,’ he points out, highlighting an area that is often overlooked. Such people need specialised support, from identifying their disability to creating a community support network that helps them cope in society. ‘People with mobility, visual, and hearing disabilities clearly need an adaptation programme tailored to their needs, as entering the labour market, i.e. ensuring their independence, is more difficult for them.’

The questions Kirill is asked are often very practical: finding work, learning Estonian, renewing Ukrainian documents, extending temporary protection or other status. However, mental health issues are also becoming increasingly prominent. ‘Unfortunately, many people have lost loved ones in the war, or have loved ones who are being held hostage or are missing – in such cases, they need someone who can help them make sense of it all and support them without judgement,’ he explains. According to him, there is likely to be an even greater need for mental health services in the future.

Creator of support networks and keeper of trust

‘My approach is based on inclusion, trust, and systematic cooperation,’ said Kirill, describing his work. ‘My goal is not to be able to answer all questions, but to direct people to experts in their field who can provide them with accurate information and support.’ A strong network of volunteers, which the Estonian Red Cross helps to develop, is an important source of support, especially in crisis situations, e.g. in the event of mass immigration.

Feedback from people and knowing that their concerns have been resolved brings me joy in my work. ‘As Ukrainians tend to communicate very emotionally, including when expressing gratitude, these expressions of appreciation often bring tears to my eyes and truly inspire me to continue helping people – you realise that what you are doing is necessary after all,’ he notes.

Stories that hurt

However, Kirill’s work is not all joy and gratitude. His most emotionally difficult moments have been meetings with former Ukrainian prisoners of war – there have been three such meetings over the past year. ‘Although I have become quite hardened in recent years, having heard the stories of so many people, it is difficult to listen to the stories of heroes who have been prisoners of war. The inhumane treatment of prisoners in Russia, the torture of people, the brutal infliction of physical injuries, and the mental destruction of people – these exposures have been the most difficult and have caused me many sleepless nights,’ he candidly admits. 

Superpower: connecting people and systems

When asked what his professional ‘superpower’ is, Kirill responds modestly but confidently: ‘I think my superpower is the ability to build trusting communities and connect people and systems – be it social media, government agencies or communities themselves.’ He is proud of having launched a large-scale information network and of having supported people on a very personal level.

‘I am proud to have been able to work with many passionate people to help people quickly and comfortably adapt to a new environment and integrate into a new society. Knowing that you have been able to support someone during a difficult period in their life and that they have truly benefited from your help brings joy and inspires you to continue your work.

The article appeared in the newsletter of cooperation partners in the field of adaptation.