Estonians’ Perceptions of Social Stratification
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Associate Professor of Youth Studies, Division of Social Studies, University of Tartu Narva College
A representative survey shows that while Estonians value an egalitarian society with a strong middle class, they perceive current society as increasingly elitist.
This gap between ideal and reality has persisted over time. Lower-status groups are more critical, viewing society as more unequal, while higher-status groups see less inequality. Compared to 1994, inequality is perceived as slightly reduced, but still significant. Views of the past are divided: less successful respondents see Soviet society as more equal, while others view it as elitist. Future expectations are also stratified – lower-income groups are more likely to expect continued inequality rather than the emergence of a broad middle class.