Ethnofuturism (Estonian:Etnofuturism) is an artistic and philosophic movement originating fromEstonia that has gone through different phases. During its initial phase from 1989 to 1994, it was an avant-garde artistic movement with emphasis onfuturism and characterized by parody, absurdity and provocative statements. In the second phase, starting with the First Ethnofuturist Manifesto in 1994, the focus shifted to the ethnic elements, foregroundingfolklore,borealism and the issues of theFinno-Ugric peoples.[1]
In the late 2010s, the term was adopted by the Estonian and internationalalt-right movement to describe theirethnonationalistic agenda. It regardsimperialism as a force detrimental to identity basednationalism. Its aim is to create a new European civilization based upon identity and roots and led byEastern Europe, calledIntermarium. Bringing about the destruction of bothAmerican andRussian imperialism and replacing them withwhite ethnostates is a goal of ethnofuturism.[2] Ethnofuturism contains a cultural and civilisational dimension that helps cement a geopolitical block of countries from theBaltic until theBlack Sea.[3]
Ethnofuturism particularly stresses cooperation between nationalists from different countries.[2] Therefore, regional imperialism and supremacist thinking is seen rather as a hindrance than an asset. As most definitions ofethnicity in the region areblood and soil-based, ethnofuturism centers around unifying these regionally sourced identities with one another. Most Ethnofuturists share an understanding of humans and nature as being inherently intertwined in an all-worldly collective, very much like a living, breathing organism.[3]
The term "ethnofuturism" was coined by Estonian poetKarl Martin Sinijärv.[4] The social background of ethnofuturism was connected with theSinging Revolution movement in Estonia in the late 1980s, after which the philosophy was developed by the nationalists of the Baltic region willing to unify and create a common civilisational platform.[5] Ethnofuturist philosophy has been popular among politicians of theConservative People's Party of Estonia and theNational Alliance fromLatvia, most notablyRuuben Kaalep andRaivis Zeltīts.[2] They have been in close cooperation withUkrainian nationalists and organizations from theVisegrád Group member states who share similar ideas. TheNational Corps inUkraine also shares and supports ethnofuturist philosophy.[3]