Agenda Profile: Margit Sutrop
The Minister of Culture's 2024 Report on the Implementation of the State's Long-Term Development Strategy "Estonia 2035" (including the implementation of the "Estonian Sports Policy Fundamentals until 2030")
2024-04-16
15th Riigikogu, 3rd sitting, plenary session
Political Position
The political focus has shifted to the insufficient funding of basic research within the humanities. The speaker strongly advocates for increasing the proportion of humanities in research grants, citing the uneven distribution of ETAG grants which favors the natural and exact sciences. This stance is central to the debate over policy and resource allocation, stressing the necessity of giving greater consideration to fundamental research.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Topic Expertise
The speaker demonstrates expertise in the field of research funding and academic support, specifically mentioning Ministry of Culture programs, the creative economy, and ETAG grants. He/She identifies as a "university person" and uses comparisons (the humanities' slice is tiny) to support his/her position.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Rhetorical Style
The style is formal and respectful, beginning with an acknowledgment of the work done by the minister and the ministry ("Thank you for this overview and a big thank you for this great work"). Logical argumentation and data-based comparison (the distribution of ETAG grants) are used to highlight the issue of underfunding in the humanities.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Activity Patterns
Only one brief contribution (a question during the Minister of Culture's report) is available for analysis.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Opposition Stance
There is no direct opposition to any specific politician or group; the criticism is aimed at the current structure of research funding, where the proportion allocated to the humanities is too small compared to other scientific disciplines.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Collaboration Style
The collaborative approach is appreciative and positive, thanking the Ministry of Culture for its work and expressing satisfaction regarding the funding allocated to researchers. The speaker is looking for an opportunity to work with the ministry to find solutions for supporting foundational research in the humanities.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Regional Focus
The focus is national, centering on Estonia’s research policy, its universities, and state funding schemes (ETAG, Ministry of Culture).
1 Speeches Analyzed
Economic Views
Supports state spending on research and development, positively noting the funding allocated to the creative economy. It emphasizes the need to expand support to include basic research in the humanities, which points toward broader support for the knowledge-based economy.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Social Issues
Focuses on education and research policy, particularly the improvement of the position and funding of the humanities within the national science system.
1 Speeches Analyzed
Legislative Focus
The priority is the reformation of science funding policy and the implementation of existing strategies ("Estonia 2035") to ensure better support for fundamental research in the humanities. A political shift in resource allocation is sought.
1 Speeches Analyzed