From Destruction to Democratic Revival

This study provides a comparative perspective of Estonian local government during the two periods of national independence (1918-1940 and since 1991). The author applies a historical institutionalist approach in her research and focuses on county governments, the institution of the mayor, and electoral rules. The research delves into how the legacies of the interwar period have shaped institutional choices during the post-communist period, with the conclusion that both interwar and communist legacies can explain some of these choices during the 1990s.