What: A panel discussions on the “World Russians: Language, Creativity, and Identity”.
When: 11 – 13 June, 2025
Where: University of Tallinn, Estonia
Who: organized by Kapitolina Fedorova
Presentation 1 by Vera Zvereva. NGOs in Finland: the Changing Socio-Cultural and Political Meanings of the Russian Language
In this presentation, Vera will explore the socio-cultural and political meanings attributed to the Russian language by NGOs in Finland engaged in social and cultural projects. Drawing on interviews from the ‘Russian World Next Door’ project at the University of Jyväskylä (2022-2025), she will use critical discourse analysis (van Dijk, 1993; Wodak & Meyer, 2001) to examine how Russian is seen as a language of identity, memory, community building, mutual support, and integration in Finnish society. Additionally, Vera will discuss how different generations of Russian speakers in Finland invest their own meanings in the language (Blommaert, 2013), whether through nostalgia, intergenerational communication, Russian as a lingua franca, or as a tool for successful socialization in Finland.
Presentation 2 by Rasa Žakevičiūtė. Meaning-making through colingual Russian-speaking organisations in Finland
The presentation will highlight the crucial role of Russian-speaking socio-cultural organisations in facilitating inter-community ties among Russian speakers and serving as a bridge to the wider Finnish society. Such organisations provide opportunities for people to cultivate a sense of purpose and connectedness through meaning-making in a new and unfamiliar environment. With the ultimate goal of integrating Russian speakers into Finnish society, it unleashes their potential, empowers them and facilitates psychological and social adaptation. It will also discuss the role of the Russian language that is used as a working tool and a unifying element by these organisations, setting them apart from similar organisations affiliated with Russian authorities or public institutions. The latter typically emphasise the ideological aspects of the Russian language and its significance as defined by Kremlin leadership.