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Peeter Vihma

University of Helsinki, Faculty of Social Sciences, Graduate Student

Estonian University of Life Sciences, Institute of Forestry and Rural Engineering, Faculty Member

Cornell University, Dept. of Natural Resources, Fulbright Fellow

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I am a recipient of a 4-year grant to complete my PhD studies at University of Helsinki. My research at the Social Sciences Doctoral School is focused on governance networks where my special interest lies in the dynamic and temporal aspects of network relations. I have a good experience in applying qualitative methods (including visual methods) but lately have made more use of network data analysis. Besides academic and applied research I make documentary films, consult and lead civil society initiatives.

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State University Higher School of Economics (St Petersburg)

Universität der Künste Berlin / University of the Arts Berlin

Maria Kyriakidou

University of East Anglia

Gabriel Alberto Moreno Esparza

Northumbria University

Marius Ioan Tatar

University of Oradea

Matthias De Groof

University of Amsterdam

Cabedoche Bertrand

sara cannizzaro

Nico Carpentier

Charles University, Prague

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Papers by Peeter Vihma

Internet, Activism and Politics. The Repertoires and Rhetoric of Estonian Internet Activists

Studies of Transition States and Societies, 2016

The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: ‘s... more The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: ‘sub- activism’, which is used to describe individual, mostly internet-mediated activism of everyday choices. Yet there is ongoing work dedicated to the question of how these everyday choices relate to other repertoires of activism. Why do people choose to participate in politics in one form rather than in another? This paper contributes to the field by analysing the rhetoric and repertoire of activists who are organised around two NGOs: the Estonian Pirate Party and the Estonian Internet Society. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, analyses of online materials, and 15 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that the choice of repertoire is strongly connected to the activists’ views on the internet, activism and politics. Most importantly, understanding what ‘politics’ stands for influences the choice of sub- activism as suitable or unsuitable action for these groups. These findings are then d...

Achieving social-ecological fit in projectified environmental governance: Exploring vertical and horizontal dimensions

Environmental Science & Policy

Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social a... more Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social and ecological systems in environmental governance. However, the role of projects in social-ecological fit has yet to be explicitly problematized and conceptualized. Given the centrality of projects-i.e. temporally limited organizations that bring various actors into collaboration to pursue clearly defined goals and tasks-in environmental governance, this is a serious shortcoming in the literature. In this paper, we fill this gap by drawing on the hitherto unconnected literatures on projectified environmental governance and social-ecological fit. We then assess the extent to which fit can be achieved in projectified environmental governance. To do this, we develop a novel framework for assessing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of social, spatial, and temporal fit and conduct an empirical study of the European Union&#39;s LIFE Program and environmental projects funded by the program in Estonia. Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal fit of projects is contingent on social fit, i.e., the alignment of interests and needs of project-related actors. Frictions between various levels of decision-making also condition the possibilities of achieving fit horizontally across stakeholder groups and ecological systems as well as of sustaining project results over time.

Between autonomy and embeddedness: project interfaces and institutional change in environmental governance

Critical Policy Studies, 2022

Our analysis addresses innovation processes that shape public policy and the engagement of state ... more Our analysis addresses innovation processes that shape public policy and the engagement of state and non-state actors in environmental management. Public sector organizations increasingly invest resources in collaborative temporary endeavors-i.e. projects-to explore new ideas and exploit the results. We analyze the environmental project portfolio of the European Commission LIFE program in Estonia for the period 2008-2018 from the viewpoint of interfaces between project teams and permanent organizations. Our analysis of project design, administration, and practices reveals that project interfaces structure opportunities for achieving technical and institutional change through temporary organizations. Adaptive strategies of actors inside projects and in the established organizational fields producse shifts in interfaces across the project life cycle. These shifts enable and constrain knowledge production and application.

Achieving social-ecological fit in projectified environmental governance: Exploring vertical and horizontal dimensions

Environmental Science and Policy, 2022

Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social a... more Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social and ecological systems in environmental governance. However, the role of projects in social-ecological fit has yet to be explicitly problematized and conceptualized. Given the centrality of projects-i.e. temporally limited organizations that bring various actors into collaboration to pursue clearly defined goals and tasks-in environmental governance, this is a serious shortcoming in the literature. In this paper, we fill this gap by drawing on the hitherto unconnected literatures on projectified environmental governance and social-ecological fit. We then assess the extent to which fit can be achieved in projectified environmental governance. To do this, we develop a novel framework for assessing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of social, spatial, and temporal fit and conduct an empirical study of the European Union's LIFE Program and environmental projects funded by the program in Estonia. Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal fit of projects is contingent on social fit, i.e., the alignment of interests and needs of project-related actors. Frictions between various levels of decision-making also condition the possibilities of achieving fit horizontally across stakeholder groups and ecological systems as well as of sustaining project results over time.

Recreational Cannabis Users in Estonia and Russia

GRUPĖS IR APLINKOS, 2010

The aim of the research has been to pay attention to two aspects concerning recreational cannabis... more The aim of the research has been to pay attention to two aspects concerning recreational cannabis use in Estonia -firstly, how young recreational drug users diminish and deal with the risks of cannabis use and, secondly, how the gender order and recreational drug use are related to each other. Cannabis has spread from the capital of Estonia and become part of the "mainstream" youth culture. Informal social networks are used for selling the drug. Smoking and dealing in cannabis is common for young people, and even non-smokers accept it. Cannabis use is considered to be everyone's free choice and seen as a "natural" drug which is not as harmful as synthetic drugs are. The aim of the research has been to investigate what kinds of social sanctions and other control mechanisms (extrinsic and intrinsic) regulate cannabis use, and the risks of diminished health -both short-term and long term -which the young recreational cannabis users have experienced. In analysing the gender order of drug use, we performed a comparative study analysing the differences between gender order and drug use in two different countries -Estonia and Russia. Different roles, responsibilities, activities and contributions of women and men are expected, allowed and encouraged in relation to different drug use contexts and countries. In this comparative study, we paid attention to many aspects concerning gender order and drug use such as the initiation to and context of drug use, hierarchy, norms and frequency and the amounts and types of drugs used in these two countries. The analysis is based on 30 open-ended interviews with cannabis users aged 16-20 conducted in Autumn 2006 under the auspices of the SAL project in Estonia. Informants were reached employing the snowball method. For the analysis of the comparative study with Russia, we used 11 interviews and field notes on Russian drug users carried out by Russian researcher, Irina Kosterina, in the framework of the SAL project in Russia.

The limits of collaborative governance: The role of inter‐group learning and trust in the case of the Estonian “Forest War”

Environmental Policy and Governance, 2021

Despite the reported success of introducing collaborative governance to the field of Estonian for... more Despite the reported success of introducing collaborative governance to the field of
Estonian forest policy, conflicts over regulations escalated to an unprecedented
extent in 2017. We analyze the institutional design and process of collaborative governance in this area in order to understand the reasons behind the failure of this governance arrangement. Our empirical analysis is based on a mixed methods approach
combining network analysis with qualitative analysis of interview data. Our analysis
reveals that the collaborative institutions were unable to generate shared understanding
of the mission and the ground rules of decision-making, provided uneven
facilitation, failed to build trust, and thus were unable to establish an arena conducive
to learning. We further stress the role of network methods in capturing adequate
information from an institutional setting involving multiple participants.

Studies of Transition States and Societies Internet, Activism and Politics. The Repertoires and Rhetoric of Estonian Internet Activists

Studies of Transition States and Societies, 2016

The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 's... more The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 'sub-activism', which is used to describe individual, mostly internet-mediated activism of everyday choices. Yet there is ongoing work dedicated to the question of how these everyday choices relate to other repertoires of activism. Why do people choose to participate in politics in one form rather than in another? This paper contributes to the fi eld by analysing the rhetoric and repertoire of activists who are organised around two NGOs: the Estonian Pirate Party and the Estonian Internet Society. Based on ethnographic fi eldwork, analyses of online materials, and 15 in-depth interviews, fi ndings indicate that the choice of repertoire is strongly connected to the activists' views on the internet, activism and politics. Most importantly, understanding what 'politics' stands for infl uences the choice of sub-activism as suitable or unsuitable action for these groups. These fi ndings are then discussed in the context of East European 'apolitical' activism and civil society.

Internet, Activism and Politics. The Repertoires and Rhetoric of Estonian Internet Activists

The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 's... more The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 'sub-activism', which is used to describe individual, mostly internet-mediated activism of everyday choices. Yet there is ongoing work dedicated to the question of how these everyday choices relate to other repertoires of activism. Why do people choose to participate in politics in one form rather than in another? This paper contributes to the field by analysing the rhetoric and repertoire of activists who are organised around two NGOs: the Estonian Pirate Party and the Estonian Internet Society. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, analyses of online materials, and 15 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that the choice of repertoire is strongly connected to the activists' views on the internet, activism and politics. Most importantly, understanding what 'politics' stands for influences the choice of sub-activism as suitable or unsuitable action for these groups. These findings are then discussed in the context of East European 'apolitical' activism and civil society.

Books by Peeter Vihma

Kogukondlik turvalisus. Juhendmaterjal.

Kuigi kogukondlik politseitöö ja kogukondlik lähenemine turvalisusele ei ole uued terminid, on ne... more Kuigi kogukondlik politseitöö ja kogukondlik lähenemine turvalisusele ei ole uued terminid, on need olnud Eestis kasutusel pigem politseiorganisatsiooni sees. Viimasel ajal on need hakanud koguma laiemat kõlapinda, mistõttu on tekkinud vajadus terminite sisu avada ja täpsustada. Käesolev juhend on mõeldud piirkonnapolitseinikele, kohalikele omavalitsustele ja turvalisusest huvitatud elanikele koostöö arendamiseks kogukondliku turvalisuse valdkonnas.

Internet, Activism and Politics. The Repertoires and Rhetoric of Estonian Internet Activists

Studies of Transition States and Societies, 2016

The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: ‘s... more The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: ‘sub- activism’, which is used to describe individual, mostly internet-mediated activism of everyday choices. Yet there is ongoing work dedicated to the question of how these everyday choices relate to other repertoires of activism. Why do people choose to participate in politics in one form rather than in another? This paper contributes to the field by analysing the rhetoric and repertoire of activists who are organised around two NGOs: the Estonian Pirate Party and the Estonian Internet Society. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, analyses of online materials, and 15 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that the choice of repertoire is strongly connected to the activists’ views on the internet, activism and politics. Most importantly, understanding what ‘politics’ stands for influences the choice of sub- activism as suitable or unsuitable action for these groups. These findings are then d...

Achieving social-ecological fit in projectified environmental governance: Exploring vertical and horizontal dimensions

Environmental Science & Policy

Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social a... more Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social and ecological systems in environmental governance. However, the role of projects in social-ecological fit has yet to be explicitly problematized and conceptualized. Given the centrality of projects-i.e. temporally limited organizations that bring various actors into collaboration to pursue clearly defined goals and tasks-in environmental governance, this is a serious shortcoming in the literature. In this paper, we fill this gap by drawing on the hitherto unconnected literatures on projectified environmental governance and social-ecological fit. We then assess the extent to which fit can be achieved in projectified environmental governance. To do this, we develop a novel framework for assessing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of social, spatial, and temporal fit and conduct an empirical study of the European Union&#39;s LIFE Program and environmental projects funded by the program in Estonia. Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal fit of projects is contingent on social fit, i.e., the alignment of interests and needs of project-related actors. Frictions between various levels of decision-making also condition the possibilities of achieving fit horizontally across stakeholder groups and ecological systems as well as of sustaining project results over time.

Between autonomy and embeddedness: project interfaces and institutional change in environmental governance

Critical Policy Studies, 2022

Our analysis addresses innovation processes that shape public policy and the engagement of state ... more Our analysis addresses innovation processes that shape public policy and the engagement of state and non-state actors in environmental management. Public sector organizations increasingly invest resources in collaborative temporary endeavors-i.e. projects-to explore new ideas and exploit the results. We analyze the environmental project portfolio of the European Commission LIFE program in Estonia for the period 2008-2018 from the viewpoint of interfaces between project teams and permanent organizations. Our analysis of project design, administration, and practices reveals that project interfaces structure opportunities for achieving technical and institutional change through temporary organizations. Adaptive strategies of actors inside projects and in the established organizational fields producse shifts in interfaces across the project life cycle. These shifts enable and constrain knowledge production and application.

Achieving social-ecological fit in projectified environmental governance: Exploring vertical and horizontal dimensions

Environmental Science and Policy, 2022

Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social a... more Social-ecological fit has been a popular approach to assessing the connectedness between social and ecological systems in environmental governance. However, the role of projects in social-ecological fit has yet to be explicitly problematized and conceptualized. Given the centrality of projects-i.e. temporally limited organizations that bring various actors into collaboration to pursue clearly defined goals and tasks-in environmental governance, this is a serious shortcoming in the literature. In this paper, we fill this gap by drawing on the hitherto unconnected literatures on projectified environmental governance and social-ecological fit. We then assess the extent to which fit can be achieved in projectified environmental governance. To do this, we develop a novel framework for assessing the vertical and horizontal dimensions of social, spatial, and temporal fit and conduct an empirical study of the European Union's LIFE Program and environmental projects funded by the program in Estonia. Our results suggest that the spatial and temporal fit of projects is contingent on social fit, i.e., the alignment of interests and needs of project-related actors. Frictions between various levels of decision-making also condition the possibilities of achieving fit horizontally across stakeholder groups and ecological systems as well as of sustaining project results over time.

Recreational Cannabis Users in Estonia and Russia

GRUPĖS IR APLINKOS, 2010

The aim of the research has been to pay attention to two aspects concerning recreational cannabis... more The aim of the research has been to pay attention to two aspects concerning recreational cannabis use in Estonia -firstly, how young recreational drug users diminish and deal with the risks of cannabis use and, secondly, how the gender order and recreational drug use are related to each other. Cannabis has spread from the capital of Estonia and become part of the "mainstream" youth culture. Informal social networks are used for selling the drug. Smoking and dealing in cannabis is common for young people, and even non-smokers accept it. Cannabis use is considered to be everyone's free choice and seen as a "natural" drug which is not as harmful as synthetic drugs are. The aim of the research has been to investigate what kinds of social sanctions and other control mechanisms (extrinsic and intrinsic) regulate cannabis use, and the risks of diminished health -both short-term and long term -which the young recreational cannabis users have experienced. In analysing the gender order of drug use, we performed a comparative study analysing the differences between gender order and drug use in two different countries -Estonia and Russia. Different roles, responsibilities, activities and contributions of women and men are expected, allowed and encouraged in relation to different drug use contexts and countries. In this comparative study, we paid attention to many aspects concerning gender order and drug use such as the initiation to and context of drug use, hierarchy, norms and frequency and the amounts and types of drugs used in these two countries. The analysis is based on 30 open-ended interviews with cannabis users aged 16-20 conducted in Autumn 2006 under the auspices of the SAL project in Estonia. Informants were reached employing the snowball method. For the analysis of the comparative study with Russia, we used 11 interviews and field notes on Russian drug users carried out by Russian researcher, Irina Kosterina, in the framework of the SAL project in Russia.

The limits of collaborative governance: The role of inter‐group learning and trust in the case of the Estonian “Forest War”

Environmental Policy and Governance, 2021

Despite the reported success of introducing collaborative governance to the field of Estonian for... more Despite the reported success of introducing collaborative governance to the field of
Estonian forest policy, conflicts over regulations escalated to an unprecedented
extent in 2017. We analyze the institutional design and process of collaborative governance in this area in order to understand the reasons behind the failure of this governance arrangement. Our empirical analysis is based on a mixed methods approach
combining network analysis with qualitative analysis of interview data. Our analysis
reveals that the collaborative institutions were unable to generate shared understanding
of the mission and the ground rules of decision-making, provided uneven
facilitation, failed to build trust, and thus were unable to establish an arena conducive
to learning. We further stress the role of network methods in capturing adequate
information from an institutional setting involving multiple participants.

Studies of Transition States and Societies Internet, Activism and Politics. The Repertoires and Rhetoric of Estonian Internet Activists

Studies of Transition States and Societies, 2016

The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 's... more The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 'sub-activism', which is used to describe individual, mostly internet-mediated activism of everyday choices. Yet there is ongoing work dedicated to the question of how these everyday choices relate to other repertoires of activism. Why do people choose to participate in politics in one form rather than in another? This paper contributes to the fi eld by analysing the rhetoric and repertoire of activists who are organised around two NGOs: the Estonian Pirate Party and the Estonian Internet Society. Based on ethnographic fi eldwork, analyses of online materials, and 15 in-depth interviews, fi ndings indicate that the choice of repertoire is strongly connected to the activists' views on the internet, activism and politics. Most importantly, understanding what 'politics' stands for infl uences the choice of sub-activism as suitable or unsuitable action for these groups. These fi ndings are then discussed in the context of East European 'apolitical' activism and civil society.

Internet, Activism and Politics. The Repertoires and Rhetoric of Estonian Internet Activists

The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 's... more The literature on political participation and activism has gained from introducing a new term: 'sub-activism', which is used to describe individual, mostly internet-mediated activism of everyday choices. Yet there is ongoing work dedicated to the question of how these everyday choices relate to other repertoires of activism. Why do people choose to participate in politics in one form rather than in another? This paper contributes to the field by analysing the rhetoric and repertoire of activists who are organised around two NGOs: the Estonian Pirate Party and the Estonian Internet Society. Based on ethnographic fieldwork, analyses of online materials, and 15 in-depth interviews, findings indicate that the choice of repertoire is strongly connected to the activists' views on the internet, activism and politics. Most importantly, understanding what 'politics' stands for influences the choice of sub-activism as suitable or unsuitable action for these groups. These findings are then discussed in the context of East European 'apolitical' activism and civil society.

Kogukondlik turvalisus. Juhendmaterjal.

Kuigi kogukondlik politseitöö ja kogukondlik lähenemine turvalisusele ei ole uued terminid, on ne... more Kuigi kogukondlik politseitöö ja kogukondlik lähenemine turvalisusele ei ole uued terminid, on need olnud Eestis kasutusel pigem politseiorganisatsiooni sees. Viimasel ajal on need hakanud koguma laiemat kõlapinda, mistõttu on tekkinud vajadus terminite sisu avada ja täpsustada. Käesolev juhend on mõeldud piirkonnapolitseinikele, kohalikele omavalitsustele ja turvalisusest huvitatud elanikele koostöö arendamiseks kogukondliku turvalisuse valdkonnas.