Estonians living abroad cite right-wing populist politics as one of several negative aspects about Estonia, according to a recent survey. Perceptions of the Estonian national character were also referred to, in a negative light. Of more positive sides to Estonia mentioned, the e-state, the natural environment and various noted people from the fields of culture and sport featured prominently.
Estonians throughout the world are not a community disjoined from Estonian society; rather, they maintain strong emotional and cultural bonds with Estonia, a study commissioned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and conducted by the Institute of Baltic Studies (IBS) indicates.