Sustaining the Arctic: How the concept of sustainability is formulated by the EU and the Finnish Sámi community

Poulsen, Birgitte Bjerge

4. term

European Studies, Master

2016

2016-12-20

64

Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan begrebet “bæredygtighed” bliver formuleret og brugt i to sammenhænge: EU’s European Policy for the Arctic og samiske lokalsamfund i finsk Lapland. Formålet er at forstå, hvorfor de to parter ofte taler forbi hinanden om bæredygtighed, og hvilke magtforhold der ligger bag deres forståelser. Studiet er et kvalitativt casestudie. Hypoteserne er udviklet ud fra en teoretisk ramme, der kombinerer international politik (realisme og liberalisme), arktiske/nordiske studier og diskursanalyse – det vil sige analyser af, hvordan sprog og begreber former vores forståelse af virkeligheden. Datagrundlaget omfatter artikler, interviews, rapporter, pressemateriale og policydokumenter. Metodekapitlet diskuterer også begrænsninger som tid og ressourcer samt forskerens subjektivitet og projektets validitet. Analysen begynder med EU’s politik for Arktis. Politikken rummer de forventede elementer, men mangler konkrete handlingsplaner og eksplicitte sikkerhedsovervejelser. Set gennem et realistisk perspektiv bruger EU bæredygtighed som led i en sikkerheds- og overlevelsesdagsorden. Gennem et liberalt perspektiv søger EU at fremme bæredygtighed for at normalisere og legitimere sin rolle i Arktis og styrke gensidig afhængighed. Dernæst præsenteres historisk, kulturel og politisk baggrund for de samiske befolkninger i finsk Lapland, herunder barrierer, som påvirker nutidens udfordringer. I en postkolonial læsning bruger samiske repræsentanter bæredygtighed til at opnå handlekraft og indflydelse i en suverænitetskamp. I en identitetsbaseret læsning forstås bæredygtighed som en del af lokal identitet og kan derfor ikke realiseres af udefrakommende alene. Konklusionen er, at der er uoverensstemmelser mellem EU’s og samiske forståelser af bæredygtighed, og at begge parters diskurser også tjener til at styrke deres egen magtposition. Afhandlingen afsluttes med overvejelser om, hvordan andre teoretiske eller metodiske valg kunne have givet andre resultater.

This thesis examines how the idea of “sustainability” is defined and used in two settings: the European Union’s European Policy for the Arctic and Sámi communities in Finnish Lapland. The aim is to understand why these actors often talk past each other about sustainability and what power dynamics shape their positions. The study is a qualitative case study. Its hypotheses are derived from a theoretical framework that combines international relations (realism and liberalism), Arctic/Nordic studies, and discourse analysis—that is, the study of how language and concepts shape our understanding of reality. The data include articles, interviews, reports, press materials, and policy documents. The methodology also reflects on limitations such as time and resources, as well as researcher subjectivity and the project’s validity. The analysis begins with the EU’s Arctic policy. The policy has the expected features but lacks concrete action plans and explicit security considerations. Through a realist lens, the EU uses sustainability as part of a security and survival agenda. Through a liberal lens, the EU promotes sustainability to normalize and legitimize its role in the Arctic and to foster interdependence. The thesis then outlines the historical, cultural, and political context of Sámi communities in Finnish Lapland, including obstacles that shape current issues. In a postcolonial reading, Sámi representatives use sustainability to gain agency and influence in sovereignty debates. In an identity-based reading, sustainability is seen as part of local identity and thus cannot be achieved by outsiders alone. The conclusion is that EU and Sámi understandings of sustainability differ, and that both actors’ discourses also serve to strengthen their own power positions. The thesis closes with reflections on how alternative theoretical or methodological choices might have led to different outcomes.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]

bæredygtighed ; sustainability ; arctic ; eu ; arktisk ; eu politik

Download
View record in AAU Student Projects