The role of citizens’ governance spaces in governing same-sex partnerships: a comparative study of Estonia (2014-2016) and Latvia (2020-2022)

Abstract

Same-sex partnership policy is a broad topic that is still developing in different countries. Due to the specificity and sensitivity of the issue, different opinions on the future of the policy exist in both the government and society. The situation becomes more complicated in the post-Soviet , where the switch of mindset started in 1991 and is still ongoing. In this context, Estonia and Latvia proceeded with equality provisions, overcoming traditional bias. Despite the common goal and practical result of the legalisation of same-sex partnerships, the outcomes differ in countries In this thesis, a comparison of the policy outcomes in these regions is provided based on the degree of the government’s initiative, social proactiveness, and the formalisation of communication channels. As an exploratory comparative case study, it investigates how differences in citizens’ governance spaces determine the outcome of same-sex partnership policy in Estonia and Latvia. The research conducted includes document analysis, desk research, and in-depth interviews with the representatives of LGBT+ associations. As a result, the study suggests hepotheses that should be explored and tested in future research on the connection between the citizens’ governance spaces and the policy outcome.