Liberalism as a form of economic nationalism.

This article examines the concept of economic nationalism. My arguments are the following. Firstly, economic nationalism is not an outdated phenomenon but is very much relevant. Secondly, using Estonian economic policy formulation as a case, I claim that economic nationalism and liberalism are not a dichotomy. Liberal economic policies are not only compatible with economic nationalism but can also constitute a form of it. Estonian policy makers have been pursuing neoliberal policies because they perceived them to best serve their objectives of regaining and maintaining their political, economic and cultural sovereignty.
This article is based on a qualitative, inductive and interpretive study, which investigated the motives behind policy choices of Estonian policy formulators in the country’s post-socialist transformation. The research method consisted of semi-structured, in-depth, face-to-face interviews with key decision makers and influencers of economic policy direction.