The Ecology of an Estonian Right-Wing Milieu: Entry and Exit of Two Extremists

This chapter provides insight into two unique cases of two Estonian extremists’ paths to and from extremism. The analyzed cases are from the right-wing milieu but different movements and times. The study considers the key factors that have shaped the right-wing milieu in Estonia from 1940 to 2022. Through the framework of moral ecology of extremism (Bouhana 2019), the chapter highlights the environmental factors that influenced the individuals and supported their radicalisation, engagement, deradicalisation, and disengagement. The study used thematic analysis (Braun and Clarke 2006) to explore a semi-structured interview with ‘Juhan’ and the court recordings of ‘Marko.’ In addition to describing the journeys of the individuals, a comparison of the cases identified four key themes. They are ‘home,’ ‘support of parents,’ ‘network of friends and acquaintances,’ and ‘developments in the political landscape.’ The findings highlight the similarities and differences of the cases and the further need for research to comprehend the ecology of the Estonian right-wing milieu.