The present-day political landscape and civic culture of Estonia have been affected both by the brevity of the democratic culture of the first period of independence and by the "corporativeness", the lack of initiative and the cutting of outside ties inherited from late totalitarianism. In the first period of the Republic of Estonia several political parties were active, but there was too little time for the development of party political traditions.
Eesti tänast poliitilist maastikku ja kodanikukultuuri on mõjutanud nii esimese iseseisvusperioodi demokraatliku kultuuri lühiajalisus kui ka hilistotalitarismist pärandiks saadud korporatiivsus, vähene pealehakkamine ja suletus.