Finno-ugric world(s) and “language brotherhood”

Abstract

Finno-Ugric countries are represented by Finland, Estonia, Hungary, and Russia.While there is a discussion on the Finno-Ugric world existence, Finno-Ugric cooperation is taking place in one form or another. Primarily, Finno-Ugrians collaborate in the sphere of culture and education. There are some NGOs aiming at developing smaller Finno-Ugric nations. The main platforms for their meetings dealing with the issues of preserving languages and cultures are the World Congresses of Finno-Ugric peoples and MAFUN—Youth Association of Finno-Ugric peoples. The MAFUN’s latest achievements are creating the MAFUN Academy and Finno-Ugric Capitals of Culture program. The activity of cultural centers can also represent an example of Finno-Ugric cooperation. Educational collaboration is represented by the activity of the Association of Finno-Ugric universities, the International Finno-Ugric Students’ Conference (IFUSCO), and Estonian and Finnish state grants programs for kindred peoples. The activity of the organizations and projects represents the examples of raising national self-awareness and common identity construction. However, many institutions are being criticized for the politicization and for being unable to solve the problems of national minorities.