From candy-making to Nuclear power generation, Alexander Grover’s book “The New Estonian Golden Age: How Estonia Will Rise To Be One Of Europe’s Five Richest Nations” written in 2008 covers a lot of ground in suggesting ways Estonia can achieve national greatness.

Those looking for a spirited evaluation of Estonia’s economic potential based on sound economic data and utilizing the latest theories of economic development should look elsewhere. The book is relatively numeral free and instead bases arguments on appeals to reason and with allusions to American history.

That said  discussion of Estonia is some what basic in that the author only looks at sources within the last 10 years Indeed the entire book reads something like an Estonian-American take on Estonian development. The author repeatedly urges Estonia to more or less follow the American model. The book was written to ruffle feathers and there is little doubt the author knows his suggestions may be controversial.

The author spends the book making numerous suggestions about what direction Estonia should take. He calls for the creation of an international medical school. He also advocates using mandatory conscription to create a state where military service is a common bond like in say Turkey or Israel.

Other suggestions range from branding Estonian candies to creating nuclear power plants. All bold suggestions though none in particular are better suited for Estonia than say Lithuania, Latvia, Azerbaijan, Senegal or any other country.

Instead of undertaking such bold (and often expensive initiatives)  He notes with a tone of disappointment that Estonia has followed the European path towards development, “The decision makers started to fall prey to Continental European ideals when faced with the dilemma of immigration, integration of the foreign born population, historical reflection, labor market flexibility and social welfare.”

Later he suggests that, “ Estonians should question what is so great about being European; they are better off being mavericks and finding their own way. The idea is to take lessons from America without becoming American. Ironically, that is the true American way; incorporate the lesson learned from the mistakes along with triumphs of others.
Then progress forward while retaining your own identity.” For some these may be fighting words.

The author’s most compelling argument is also perhaps his most controversial:  that Estonia should embrace immigration should be no surprise to a nation of some 1.3 million people.

Though this politically unattainable witness the common level discrimination that Somalis and Central Asians face in Estonia and in the Nordic region. In one of the anecdotes from the book the author makes a passionate argument for Estonian tolerance of immigration.

“In an American Chamber of Commerce luncheon in 2008, the Estonian Foreign Minister when discussing his view on immigration was only speaking in the negative: stating the crime percentages in Helsinki attributed to Somali migrants. He failed to mention any positive stories about immigrants such as the foreign chefs in Estonia. He further failed to mention that it may be the Scandinavian system that is the problem, not the Somalis. Benny Carlson, a Swedish economic historian, recently compared the experiences of Somali immigrants in Sweden with those of Somali immigrants in Minneapolis, Minnesota (USA). Only 30 percent had a job in Sweden whereas around 60% had a job in Minneapolis. Moreover, there are about 800 businesses run by Somalis in Minneapolis, compared to only 38 in Sweden. Carlson quoted two immigrants who together summed up the disparity. “There are opportunities here”, said Jamal Hashi, who runs a restaurant in Minneapolis. His friend, who migrated to Sweden instead, told a different story: “You feel like a fly trapped under a glass.”

The author is correct here. He is right in that Estonia needs further immigration to make itself stronger player economically. Strong measures are needed to put Estonia on the right path but, the author argues that statistics can lie about the gravity of Estonia’s situation.

A statistical fluke due caused by capita erosion or depopulation, “ will on paper make Estonia look quite ok. Square meters per capita will grow; autos per capita will grow, shopping centers per capita, mobiles per capita, internet per capita etc will all rise, but not in the way investors would hope for. The losses of people will not lead wealth redistribution to the masses. The GDP per capita may look good but the distortion of wealth distribution will continue to grow.

In a speech this spring at The Atlantic Council, President Toomas Ilves described  Estonia as a goal driven nation. The first national goal was independence, the second was perserving Estonian cultural distinctiveness and the most recent goal is clearly to adapt the Euro currency in 2011. What will Estonia’s next national goal be? Mr. Grover’s work while controversial has certainly added some possible goals to that list.

[For more info and for ordering the book, you can visit the author's website]

The Baltic Boxing Union awards 2009 failed to reward any Estonian fighters for their efforts and fighters from Lithuania and Latvia did not feature highly in the rankings as well. No fighter from any country is currently a Baltic champion.

At the end of 2009, the highest ranked Estonian boxer was middleweight Sergey Melis. Melis is the first ever BBU Champion way back in 2008. Melis is currently ranked fourth in BBU Rankings.

Melis opened 2009 with a successful knockout defense of his title. Melis then campaigned in France. In May he defeated Mariusz Bikupski by TKO in the 8^th.

Later he lost to Julie Marie Sainte this past October when the referee waved off the fight in the 4^th round.

The only other ranked Estonian based fighter Albert Starikov at number nine in welterweight. Starikov fought four times in 2009, recording a record of 1-2-1 in those fights.

The young Baltic Boxing Union is still formulating itself and has many divisions which are vacant of a current champion.

The announced award winners from 2009 included:

FIGHTER OF THE YEAR: KAI KAURAMÄKI (FIN)

FIGHT OF THE YEAR: VASILY LEPIKHIN (RUS) SD 8 ROMAN SIMAKOV (RUS)

PROSPECT OF THE YEAR: LUKASZ MACIEC (POL)

PROMOTER OF THE YEAR: TOMASZ BABILONSKI (POL)

SPECIAL NOMINATION: PAWEL GLAZEWSKI (POL)

SPECIAL NOMINATION: GERMAN TITOV (RUS)

Estonian national football team ended its 2009 campaign on a high note by defeating Angola 1-0 in a friendly game in Portugal on December 30^th.

The Angolan press blamed the loss largely on “la lluvia y el frío” or the “rain and cold” that was characteristic of this match in Portugal. The Estonian team had little problem with the “vihm ja külm” as it earned its third victory in as many months.

Both sides put up a good defensive show in the first half. In the second Kaimar Saag scored the game’s loan goal giving Estonia a 1-0 lead in the 79^th minute.

The goal was the first for Saag in international play. The 21 year old forward has been capped 19 times by the Estonian national team and plays his club football for Silkborg IF.

Currently the Estonian national team is on a three game unbeaten streak. In October the Estonians bested Belgium 2-0 in Tallinn and in November drew 0-0 with Albania also in the Estonian capital.

Oddsmakers had Estonia as heavy underdogs in the match. According to the final 2009 FIFA world rankings the Sinisärgid (Blue shirts) are ranked 102nd in the world and Angola is currently ranked 95^th .