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