CFP: NPE symposium, Rovaniemi 29-30 August 2018
<
strong>Arctic Continuities
There is a common way of describin
g the Arctic – the region, its people and resources – in terms of rapid cha
nge and constant transformation. Climate change, scramble for the world’s d
iminishing natural resources and the rather newly emerged concern for local
cultures and knowledge, among others, have contributed to the repeated con
structions of the Arctic as something that is constantly in flux. Undeniabl
y, the Arctic and its people have witnessed radical changes. However, the p
revailing rhetoric of change dismisses a great deal of what has held its gr
ound, the traits of continuity that make the Arctic what it is. The persist
ence of northern ways of life, local and indigenous cultures and the practi
ces of using and benefiting from the region’s renewable resources are some
of the examples of this continuity. Equally recurring are perceptions and p
reconceived ideas of the Arctic as a global frontier, as a region rich with
exploitable resources and a wilderness to be protected.
The No
rthern Political Economy symposium of 2018 invites scholars from a range of
disciplines to reflect on the elements of continuity in the Arctic and the
ways in which continuity and change mesh. Among other questions, the sympo
sium asks to what extent the view of Arctic as a central stage for change w
orks to effectively gloss over powerful continuities, such as the lingering
of colonial and exploitative practices and hierarchical center-periphery r
elations.
Keynote speaker
Kirsten Thiste
d, University of Copenhagen
Greenlandic Exceptionalisms
Kirsten Thisted is an Associate Professor in the Minority Stu
dies Section, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies, University
of Copenhagen. She has conducted cross-disciplinary research in literature
, linguistics, media and history. Her research has focused especially on Gr
eenland. In her talk she will reflect on change as a constant factor in the
history of Greenland.
Deadline for proposals<
br />Please send your abstract (max. 250-words) with your name, title, affi
liation and contact information by 28 June 2018 by email t
o Marjo Lindroth (This ema
il address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to
view it.).
Programme
The programme will include
a keynote talk, presentations by the participants and discussions on the ba
sis of presentations. A symposium dinner will be organized.
Con
firmations of acceptance will be sent by early July the latest. The final p
rogramme will be announced by 8 August.
There is no participati
on fee and the the organizers will cover the costs of meals during the semi
nar. Please note that the symposium participants are expected to cover thei
r own travel and accommodation costs.
More information<
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The symposium is organised by the Northern political economy/
Sustainable development research group, Arctic Centre, University of Laplan
d.
Symposium organizing team: Heidi Sinevaara-Niskanen (