Bilateral joint project between the University of Lapland and Hokkaido University is funded by the Research Council of Finland and the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
At its core, the project “The Russian invasion of Ukraine - impacting actions and visions of Japan and Finland in the Arctic” explores how Finland and Japan can jointly address the Arctic's evolving geopolitical and security challenges. It focuses on the impact of rising international tensions on multilateral Arctic governance, examining how these tensions influence bilateral cooperation, the roles of subnational and non-state actors, and the rights and well-being of Indigenous communities.
The project builds on a long-standing academic collaboration between Arctic Centre at the University of Lapland in Finland and Hokkaido University Arctic Research Center in Japan. Project is led by Research Professor Kamrul Hossain (the University of Lapland) and Associate Professor Juha Saunavaara (Hokkaido University). The project was awarded a total of 60 000 €in funding, half of it by the Research Council of Finland.
A key dimension of the study is the effect of global conflicts, especially the ongoing war, on academic collaboration and the positions of Japan and Finland in international forums.
The collaboration is further strengthened by the countries' shared concerns as neighbors of Russia and their existing ties across academic, governmental and business sectors as well as in indigenous issues. Both Finland and Japan host Indigenous communities – the Sámi in Finland and the Ainu in Japan – making mutual understanding of Indigenous rights and knowledge a vital pillar of cooperation between the two nations.
Japan’s growing interest in Arctic stewardship presents an opportunity to enhance this bilateral partnership, particularly through engagement with Finland’s extensive Arctic expertise. Ultimately, the project aims to sustain and deepen Finland-Japan cooperation, offering new strategies for navigating the complex and shifting Arctic geopolitical landscape.
The project will promote bilateral exchange and research mobility of scholars between Finland and Japan. The other participants from the Finnish side include Research Professor Sanna Kopra and researchers Medy Dervovic, and Marco Volpe from the Arctic Centre of the University of Lapland.
More information:
Kamrul Hossain, Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law
Arctic Centre, University of Lapland
Kamrul.hossain(at)ulapland.fi, +35840 484 4281