The theme is inspired by the world (dis)order of mounting multi-crises with the two-fold, partly controversial, realities: Start with grand environmental challenges of the Anthropocene (pollution, global warming with extreme weather conditions, the related loss of biodiversity), accelerated by the mass-scale utilization of resources, and political inability of states efficiently to manage the ecological catastrophe, which threaten human and environmental security, as well as the entire human existence. At the same time, there are great power rivalries with growing arms race and expiring arms control / disarmament agreements, new East-West tension with tit-for-tat, war-mongering and hot / proxy wars, as well as continuing warfare in Africa and the Middle East, and rising flows of migrants / asylum seekers for example, across the Mediterranean and Rio Grande. Finally, as an overarching trend the domination of securitization is everywhere, indicating an obvious antagonism between ‘militarization’ and ‘environmentalization’ of societies, policies, trans-boundary relations and media.

Of particular interest, although not limited, of Calotte Academy 2024 are discussions and critical analyses, including methodology (scientific / Indigenous knowledge), empirical & (tentative) outcomes, on the following topics:

  • How ‘security’ is (re)defined and discussed from different points of view and agencies, from military to environment and (post)human.
  • An evolution of security discourses and concepts in IR, international politics, international law - from traditional to comprehensive.
  • Actors / owners of security from national security elite to citizens - globally, nationally, regionally, locally.
  • An agency and legitimacy of the security ownership – theoretically, or through case studies.
  • The environment vis-a-vis the military – shared and / or conflicting interests.
  • Indigenous peoples vis-a-vis environmentalism / environmental activists and / or the military / soldiers.
  • Environmental security and Indigenous / non-Indigenous peoples: local perceptions on nature-resource based industries & other livelihoods in the climate crisis.
  • Impacts of the military to the environment, those of the environment to the military.
  • Environmental agreements vis-a-vis arms control / disarmament treaties – supportive or competitive ones.
  • Intersecting Horizons: exploring the nexus of outer space security, environmental sustainability and legal perspectives in the Arctic / Barents Region.
  • A shift in security premises / a paradigm shift from military security to environmental / human security – necessary, and if, how to make it?
  • Military training vis-a-vis environmental education.
  • The environment and the military as indicators and factors of regional development and local livelihoods (e.g. berry-picking, fisheries, forestry, mining, reindeer-herding, tourism).
  • The environment and the military as indicators and factors for sustainability of urban Arctic places – in general and in turbulent times of uncertainties.

The 2024 Academy will be organized, as the previous ones, with a spirit of an open dialogue and a participatory approach to discuss, examine and analyze relevant Northern / Arctic and global issues. The Academy aims to apply the double interplay between science, politics and business, and that between scientific and Indigenous knowledge, as well as to educate, supervise and train early-career researchers, as well as advanced MA students, in interdisciplinary studies and implement a transdisciplinary dialogue between different local / regional stakeholders.

Applications

This is the 1st Call for Papers for early-career researchers (PhD candidates, post-docs, advanced Master’s students), and established researchers with different academic backgrounds to participate & present their work in the 2024 Academy. The Academy allocates small grants for those who are accepted as participants covering travel, accommodation, and lunches during the Academy, as well as conference materials.

The deadline for applications is 15 April 2024. An application is required to include an abstract of circa 250-350 words, a brief Bio / CV incl. a state of (PhD / MA) studies and list of publications. Applications must be submitted online at https://calotte-academy.com.

Co-organizers

The annual Calotte Academy is co-organized by International Center for Reindeer Herding Husbandry (EALAT), Saami Education Institute (SAKK), and University of Lapland (in Finland); in cooperation with UArctic Thematic Network (TN) on Geopolitics and Security.

About the Calotte Academy

The Calotte Academy is an international academic symposium, traveling in several destinations in the European Arctic, designed to promote interdisciplinary research, and implement the interplay between senior & young researchers for to educate, supervise and train in Northern / Arctic and global studies. It is also an experimental “School of dialogue” and participatory by nature with an idea to share knowledge and foster academic & policy-oriented dialogue among members of the research community and a wide range of other local & regional stakeholders, including the Saami. The annual Academy, organized since 1991, is a perfect platform for early-career researchers, particularly PhD candidates and post-docs, as well as established researchers, with different academic & knowledge backgrounds, to actively participate & discuss, and present their work.

For more information

For more information, please contact with Prof. Lassi Heininen (lassi.heininen@ulapland.fi), Prof. Laura Junka-Aikio (laura.junka-aikio@ulapland.fi) at the University of Lapland; and the Academy's co-coordinators: PhD Candidate Daria Mishina (dmishina@ulapland.fi), PhD Candidate Zhanna Anshukova (anshukovazhanna@gmail.com), PhD Candidate Tom Royer (troyer@ulapland.fi) at University of Lapland.