What is left of development in the Arctic? Is sustainable development a utopia in the Arctic? Is development in the Arctic more unsustainable than sustainable? Sustainable development, a popular idea of balanced, equal and participatory development, dominates the debates about the region. Even research about the region often takes sustainable development as a starting point. However, the progress towards reaching this goal seems slow and sustainable development unreachable. These observations make us ask: What makes development sustainable in the Arctic in different political, economic and social contexts? What kind of social and political imaginaries we have and should have for the Arctic? Do our imaginaries match our means and practices? Are there any attractive, viable alternatives for sustainable development? How do different imaginaries motivate or improve current policies and strategies? What kinds of missed voices and ideas there are about development in the Arctic? How do emotions of hope, fear and uncertainty relate to the Arctic future?
Papers and presentations covering different aspects of Arctic developments critically are welcome. The event will be organized in connection to the Arctic Spirit Conference 2019.
Keynote speaker:
Our keynote speaker will be professor Reetta Toivanen (HELSUS, University of Helsinki, Finland). The topic of her talk will be “European fantasies on the Arctic”.
Programme:
The programme will include a keynote talk, presentations by the participants and discussions on the basis of presentations. A symposium dinner will be organized.
Deadline for proposals:
Please send your abstract (max. 250-words) with your name, title, affiliation and contact information before September 15, 2019 by email to Monica Tennberg (monica.tennberg [at] ulapland.fi).
Deadline for registration:
If you prefer to participate to the symposium without presenting a paper, please register your participation before 31.10.2019. by sending an email to Monica Tennberg (monica.tennberg [at] ulapland.fI)