Subjectivities of Owning Land - Land Redistribution and the Nation State in the Baltics Across the 20th Century

March 4–5, 2026 / Tallinn University
Project Workshop: The Impact of Land Reform on the Baltic States and Societies Across the Ruptures of 1918, 1944/45 and 1991

There is a broad consensus on the vital importance of land reform for the building of states and societies in the Baltics – be it during the periods of nation statehood (interwar, post-Cold War), under Soviet rule or during the two World Wars. Scholars have noted the interaction of land redistribution in one period with effects of land reform from previous periods, but only in passing: Reconstruction these interactions across the profound ruptures that structure 20th century Baltic history poses considerable methodological challenges. These range from variations of record-keeping across linguistic hurdles to the ideological underpinnings of primary sources.
At this workshop, which is part of the AHRC-DFG-funded project ‘Subjectivities of Owning Land: Land Redistribution and the Nation State in the Baltics’ (SOL), we want to examine what can be gained from taking a broader perspective on land reform and historical change, what the limitations are, how land reforms shaped societies, and how different acts of land reform built on one another. The focus is on an exchange of research findings, of conceptual ideas, and of methodological approach most suited for reconstructing continuities across ruptures.
SOL Website: https://mob.subjectivities-of-owning-land.de/

For further information, please view the document below: