The Social Transformation of Former "Closed Cities" in Estonia. Case-study of Paldiski and Sillamae

The project will focus on analytical and comparative studies of social and economical structure transformations in "closed cities" (ZATO) and in the former military cities in Estonia. The main subjects of this comparative study are former Paldiski and Sillamae. Closed cities were characterized by limited communication with outside environment and by the lack of exchange of information. The state institutions, such as police or Public Prosecutor's Office, had extended legal power there. These and other restrictive boundaries were offset by state benefits and by better abundant supplies for the city. The risk factor of local economy was the military focus in exchange for self sustainability. After the collapse of the USSR and the loss of state fundings these cities fell into a deep social and economical crisis, which is needed to overcome until now The main question of that project is if the post-soviet development of those cities has different or common elements and if in a specific way of transformation of those cities exist