Estonian Lessons

Description

Near the top of most international league tables comes a surprising name: Estonia. This small country has many brilliant achievements to its name which can and should inspire the rest of the world: top globally in both environmental performance and human rights; the second-biggest per capita donor to Ukraine, after Denmark; second globally in digital government; home to more tech unicorns per capita than any other state; and boasting the best exam results in Europe. Estonia has the best tax system (seven years in a row!) and the world’s most performed living classical composer. All underpinned by a deep commitment to freedom.

Ross Allen, UK Ambassador in Tallinn and a fluent Estonian-speaker, explores how this country has come to excel in so many fields, and what the rest of the world could learn from it. He offers insights from his diplomatic work, but also shares his embrace of local culture, from song festivals to smoke saunas. Having travelled across Estonia’s towns, villages, islands and bogs, his understanding of and enthusiasm for this relatively obscure country shine through.

With elements of travel, history, geography and international politics, this highly enjoyable book will make you see Estonia and the Baltics in a new light.

Reviews

‘A must-read for anyone interested in how a small country menaced by larger neighbours through the ages has emerged as a model of modernity, efficiency and social progress. It is a miracle of modern nation-building described with infectious enthusiasm, insight and humour. Allen himself is also a model of the modern diplomat: unstuffy, keen to learn everything about a country he grew to love, and keener still to encourage others to learn too. A delightful and uplifting book.’ — Nick Clegg, former leader of the Liberal Democrats and former deputy prime minister (2010–15)

‘Ross Allen is one of Britain’s brightest young diplomats. He illuminates what makes Estonia tick: a country on the cutting edge of technological innovation and on the frontline of the new cold war with Russia. Though small, Estonia has an outsize international footprint, and Allen takes us behind the scenes on how it got here—and what lies ahead.’ — George Parker, Political Editor, Financial Times

‘During his five years in Estonia, Ross Allen has received visits from half the cabinet of three different governments. Partly for geopolitical reasons, but ministers and shadow ministers also go to Estonia to learn from all the things they do so well, like childcare and digital infrastructure. In Ross Allen, they’ve been lucky to find the perfect tour guide, and now the rest of us have his book. Allen is everything you could hope for in an ambassador: highly intelligent, charming and entertaining company. But the rarer quality that underpins all these is his almost childlike enthusiasm for life, which shines through every page of this book. There is so much we can learn from Estonia. We’re lucky we can learn it through the prism of Ross Allen.’ — Tom Peck, parliamentary sketch-writer, The Times

‘As an ambassador fluent in the language, Ross Allen reveals how Estonia leads the world in innovation, education, love of nature and security. Discover its culture, resilience, and digital future; a model from which we can all learn.’ — Charles Clarke, former UK home secretary and education secretary

‘We Estonians have a lot of great achievements that we are somewhat shy to promote ourselves. As a great friend of Estonia and someone who understands us well, Ross does a brilliant job of explaining our successes with honesty and warmth.’ — Kersti Kaljulaid, former president of Estonia (2016–21)

‘How can a country of 1.3 million punch above its weight? With the most unicorns per capita and a digital state admired by more than 150 countries. Drawing on five years of working, living and singing in Estonia, Ross Allen explains Estonia’s remarkable success.’ — Taavet Hinrikus, Director of Strategy and first employee at Skype; Wise founder; serial investor; and co-founder of Jōhvi Coding School

Author(s)

Ross Allen is a career diplomat who has been UK Ambassador to Estonia since June 2021. He formerly held posts in New York, Washington DC and Jerusalem; in the UK Cabinet Office and Foreign Office; and in the banking sector. He holds a Theology degree from the University of Cambridge.