In response to AussieJohn's latest offering:

(1) "Fascism" is defined as "A system of government marked by centralisation of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism; a political philosophy or movement based on advocating such a system of government." No aspect of the above applies to Estonia. AJ, along with some Russian sources, use the term simply as a catch-all insult, possibly to divert attention from Soviet Russia's Baltic crimes.

(2) Based on Russia's past and present behaviour, most Estonians certainly see Russia as posing the greatest threat to their future.

(3) Sweeping accusations without verifiable source evidence are AJ's speciality.

( 4) AJ is creative not only in accusations and in pseudo-history; he is also good at inventing statements and imputing them to me. Where have I said that the Peipsi "old believer" Russians were the first or only historical Russian settlers in Estonia? Nowhere. They are, however, the primary pre-Soviet Russian settlers, having arrived mostly in the 17th Century. In the 1897 census, Russians comprised only 4.7% of the population, consisting almost entirely of the "old believers". AJ posits the fiction that Russians historically belong in Estonia, which is nonsense. Historically there were very few Russians in the population, and the overwhelming majority of people of Russian origin in the country today are Soviet-era colonists with no roots in the country at all.

(5) My family and relatives never were anywhere near the spectrum of AJ's despised "ruling elite", yet the term, "good old Swedish times" was just as readily used by them as by almost all Estonians everywhere. AJ doesn't know Estonians very well.

(6) Investors, including Swedish investors, are entitled to profits from their enterprise. Under Soviet occupation, there was no profit at all, only shoddy, grey mediocrity and oppression.

Correction: in my preceding post's 2nd bullet point, "1799" should correctly read "179".

RogueFailedWest, when did you visit Estonia? I first visited it in 1992, very soon after the end of Soviet occupation, and at that time the country certainly reflected the mindless stupidity and the stultifying oppression of Communist occupation, and was in a shockingly decrepit state. Although even then, visitors who arrived there from Russia consistently described it as much more prosperous than Russia itself. In subsequent visits, Estonia has taken on more and more of its own face, and now, with some exceptions, is indistinguishable from much of Western Europe.

Becau se of the devastation which the Soviet occupation caused, Estonia is still a long way from where it should be, which is on a level with Finland. In 1939, Estonia's standard of living was the same as Finland's, and in some decades will be again if Russia stays where it belongs. But even now, Estonia is the most prosperous  and successful country of all the fomer Soviet space including Russia, and amongst the most prosperous of East European countries. Here are some objective statistics:

* Reporters Sans Frontieres Press Freedom Index 2011-2012: Estonia 3rd out of 179 (Russia 142nd);

* The Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal 2012 Index of Economic Freedom: Estonia 19th out 1799 (Russia 144th);

* International Living Quality of Life Index 2011: Estonia 32nd out of 137 (Russia 83rd);

* UN Human Development Index 2011: Estonia 34th out of 187 (Russia 66th);

* Transparency International Corruption Perceptions Index 2011; Estonia 28th out of 182 (Russia 143rd);

*Per capita GDP (2010 estimate) Estonia at $US19,100 63rd in world (Russia at $US15,900 71st in world);

* Nationmaster Technology Index: Estonia 14th out of 101 (Russia 66th);.

* Credit ratings: Moody's A1, Standard & Poor's AA-, Fitch A+.

It might be time for you to visit Estonia again, RogueFailedWest. This time perhaps leave your bias at home.