The origins of the book “Critical Studies of the Arctic: Unravelling the North” (Palgrave Macmillan) lie in the research that its editors, Marjo Lindroth, Heidi Sinevaara-Niskanen and Monica Tennberg, have conducted. Their respective social scientific studies on the Arctic have drawn on the tradition of critical research. Over the years, it has become evident that there is a need to employ a variety of conceptual approaches if we are to comprehend social developments connected to the Arctic and the changes the region is undergoing.

– It has been great to witness the gradual entrance of critical social scientific concepts and theories into Arctic research. Although these approaches are increasingly visible in the arenas of Arctic research, critical approaches have much more to offer, Lindroth, Sinevaara-Niskanen and Tennberg note.

Stemming as it does from social scientific theories, the book offers tools to make sense of and problematize the Arctic. The volume argues that such tools enable Arctic research to pose new kinds of questions. The book pioneers in introducing critical approaches and, as such, can be utilized as a text book in Arctic studies.

– We genuinely hope that the volume will inspire researchers and students to view the Arctic and Arctic research anew, whether it is about geopolitics, aesthetics, economy or questions related to sexuality.

The book entails twelve chapters that introduce critical theoretical approaches. Chapters by scholars from the University of Lapland include Aesthetics (Joonas Vola), Biopolitics (Julian Reid), Intersectionality (Heidi Sinevaara-Niskanen), Narratives (Monica Tennberg), Socio-Legal Studies (Marjo Lindroth) and Queer Studies (Leena-Maija Rossi). In addition, the authors include established Arctic scholars from Denmark, Sweden and the UK, among others. Their chapters are titled Affects (Kirsten Thisted), Critical Geopolitics (Klaus Dodds, Chih Yuan Woon ja Liling Xu), Indigenous Archaeology (Carl-Gösta Ojala), Legal Anthropology (Reetta Toivanen), Moral Economy (Frank Sejersen) and Neoliberal Governmentality (Gail Russel).

– It has been rewarding to work with scholars that have such a broad array of expertise. In addition to the chapter authors, the volume has been supported by international networks in critical and Arctic research that have encouraged us to take the idea forward. A big thank you goes out to the over twenty peer-reviewers whose scientific contribution has been instrumental.

The book is aimed to all scholars and students interested in Arctic issues. The editors and chapter authors will introduce the volume in a book launch at the University of Lapland, Friday 18th November 2022, 2pm (lecture room 16). In the beginning of 2023, an international lecture series based on the book will be organized. Welcome!

Further information:

University researcher Marjo Lindroth, marjo.lindroth(at)ulapland.fi, 040-484 4028
University lecturer Heidi Sinevaara-Niskanen, heidi.sinevaara-niskanen(at)ulapland.fi, 040-484 4132
Research professor Monica Tennberg, monica.tennberg(at)ulapland.fi, 040 019 2005

Information on the publication:

Marjo Lindroth, Heidi Sinevaara-Niskanen and Monica Tennberg (eds.) (2022) Critical Studies of the Arctic: Unravelling the North. Palgrave Macmillan.
Subscription of the book: https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-031-11120-4