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Kurzfassung auf Englisch:

The focus of this study, largely based on field research and interviews with current and former staff members, is the evaluation of the performance of the OSCE Long-term Mission to Estonia established in 1992. The analysis starts with an overview of the Mission’s mandate and the structure and composition of its staff. The strategy of ‘active conformation’ (avoidance of directly confronting the Estonian Government on human rights issues) adopted by the Mission and the allocation of priorities in the broad range of activities are linked to the concept of preventive diplomacy as understood by Mission’s diplomats. The study finds that there is a clear gender-related hierarchy. Also, insufficient attention is paid to strengthening the links between the Mission’s involvement in societal-based NGO projects supporting democratisation and the development of civil society and the more government-oriented activities of the Mission. This section is followed by a reflection on the Mission’s future and a compilation of suggestions by persons interviewed on how to transform the Mission so that it can make a significant contribution to the integration of the Russian-speaking minority and to the development of democracy and civil society in Estonia as a whole. The author then concludes by arguing that, although its presence was never welcomed by the Estonian State, the Mission has made itself too valuable to be closed down and still has a positive role to play in calming tensions in the country. The final conclusions seek to generalise the findings as regards the role of the OSCE Long-term missions in preventive diplomacy.

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