8 th International Summer School in Karelia 2011 Main theme: From Circumpolar Stability toward Nordic Peace Helsinki, May 11 th 12 th Joensuu, May 13 th Petrozavodsk, May 15 th 18 th Call for Participation Draft, December 2010 The International Summer/Spring School in Karelia (ISSK) is organized by the Petrozavodsk State University (Russia) and four Finnish universities: University of Lapland, University of Tampere, Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki, and the University of Eastern Finland. ISSK is a meeting-point for Russian, and Finnish and other Nordic university students with focus on European, Russian and Northern studies. Since the initial Summer School in 2003, the goal has been to bring together a limited number (25-30) of MA students for one week at the Petrozavodsk State University (PetrSU) (and in 2011 also at the University of Helsinki and that of Eastern Finland, Joensuu) in order to further increase their knowledge of Nordic- Russian policies and cooperation, and promote dialogue and discussion. Coming now into its 8 th year of existence in 2011, the ISSK expands its scope and vision, and geography (where to take place) to attract larger audience of students and provide them with a more diversified academic, professional and social learning experience.
How to apply? There is no fixed form of application. Instead of it, send a free application and indicate the following information: Full name and address, including e-mail address Home university and (major) academic discipline Brief statement of interest in the study program. Send an application to the organizers (see below) by 26 March, 2011. NB! Non-Russian students and lecturers will need a visa, issued by Petrozavodsk State University in order to get free accommodation in PetrSU dormitory/hotel. ONLY those with PetrSU visas will be allowed to stay at PetrSU rooms. NB! Please note that the process of issuing invitation for a visa to Russia, and visa itself can take up to 2 months (plus delivery by regular mail) for students/lecturers from countries having no visa facilitation agreement with Russia (please check that out beforehand). Each participant is supposed in good time to apply for the invitation and visa to Russia. Please find the invitation/visa application form in the Annex 1. And find the instruction for visa application to Finland in the Annex 2. For whom ISSK'11 is purposed for the students of international relations, political sciences, other relevant social sciences, economics, and Northern and Nordic studies. Assessment For a successful completion of the course, each student is required to attend all lectures and excursion, and actively participate in daily workshops. Additionally, each student needs to write an essay of 10-12 A4 pages, i.e. 22.000-24.000 items (not including reference list, figures and tables) on a selected topic, relevant to the main theme of ISSK 11, and submit it to his/her university coordinator within one month after the completion of the course. With those requirements fulfilled the course will carry up to 5 ECTS. Costs There is no registration fee. The participation costs will consist of travel costs to and from Helsinki, Joensuu and Petrozavodsk, accommodation costs in Helsinki and Joensuu, nourishment, and the visa costs. Other costs, e.g. small refreshments, accommodation in Petrozavodsk, will be covered by the organizers. ISSK 11: From Circumpolar Stability toward Nordic Peace Behind the main theme of the ISSK 11, Stability and Peace, and Security is an interpretation and discourse that at the twenty-first century s High North is a very stable and peaceful area without either armed conflicts, or an uncontrolled race on natural resources. Much opposite, it enjoys considerable international, mostly multi-national, cooperation by the arctic states, the northern indigenous peoples and other actors, as has been the institutionalized Nordic cooperation within the last 60 years. This can be taken as a success story in the broader context of the international system
where does exist two main wars, and several minor wars and armed conflicts, and a constant fight against (international) terrorism. This current state is, however, neither guaranteed nor necessarily stable, but can be changed, since the northernmost regions of the globe are not isolated, but closely integrated into the globe and the international community. Furthermore, there is a growing global interest toward the region and its resources as well as options to the utilization of them. This is largely due to on one hand, climate change and other global environmental problems, and on the other hand, the combination of the strategic importance of energy security and a potentially bigger share of more accessible Arctic regions in the global economy. Consequently, there is a manifold growth in the geostrategic importance of the High North in world politics and economics due to these more (geo)strategic reasons but also more immaterial values, such as diversity of a nature and life, innovations in political and legal arrangements, and the stability and peace of the region. All this emphasizes an importance of to continue the current state of stability and peace in international relations between states and other northern actors. Correspondingly, this emphasizes a need of, and academic interest for, to study further both stability and peace, and security in general, and particularly how stability and peace are structured in the Arctic Region. Here the circumpolar stability and the Nordic peace are key concepts and cases for studies, and consequently, the proposed main theme From Circumpolar Stability toward Nordic Peace includes several sub-themes and approaches, such as the following ones (a final shorter list of sub-themes will be decided later): How has stability been reached in the Arctic, and how is it structured? What does mean the Nordic Peace, and what is it consisted of? Importance of stability and peace on well-being and when facing social challenges How to define stability and peace, and tension, conflict and war? How to move from a conflict into a stable and peaceful situation are there proper procedures and methods? Economic cooperation and trade strengthening stability and peace is that true or a cliché? Cultural diversity as a peace-building factor Role and importance of Indigenous peoples (and their knowledge) in peace building Etymology of stability, peace and conflict in Saami languages Climate change a challenge or threat to stability and peace? Will climate change cause a change in problem definition on security paradigm? Who will be the actors for peace & stability in the age of climate change (generally and particularly in the Arctic)? Among potential background material are Arctic Human Development Report (Akureyri, Iceland: Stefansson Arctic Institute, 2004); Globalization and the Circumpolar North. Eds. by Lassi Heininen and Chris Soutcott (Fairbanks, USA: The University of Alaska Press, 2010); The Nordic Peace. Eds. Clive Archer and Pertti Joenniemi (Aldershot, UK: Ashgate, 2003).
ISSK 11: Working methods and program structure One week course The ISSK 11 is a one week intensive course that will study Stability, Peace and Security in general, and particularly in the context of the Arctic and North Europe taking both a comprehensive and interdisciplinary approach. Through bringing together recognised Finnish/Nordic and Russian experts, ISSK 11 will provide students with an overview of stability and peace, conflict and war, and security studies in the Arctic and North Europe. Some current research projects being conducted at some of the region s foremost educational institutions will also be highlighted. Daily programme Daily schedule of the ISSK consist of two lectures in the morning student workshop(s), supervised by the experts, after lunch Students will give their active contribution during the lectures, workshops and the final round-table discussion in order to increase their understanding of various environmental policy issues in the North. Excursion Additionally, there will be an opportunity to participate in a full / half-day excursion within Karelia, to nearby sites of general interest. Contact Information for ISSK 11 For additional information about the ISSK'11, do not hesitate to contact the director, the coordinator, Gleb Yarovoy and members of the ISSK Organizing Committee: Lassi Heininen, director University of Lapland lassi.heininen@ulapland.fi Tapani Kaakkuriniemi University of Helsinki tapani.kaakkuriniemi@helsinki.fi Hanna Peltonen University of Helsinki hanna.o.peltonen@helsinki.fi Nina Tynkkynen University of Tampere nina.tynkkynen@uta.fi Joni Virkkunen University of Eastern Finland joni.virkkunen@joensuu.fi Gleb Yarovoy, coordinator Petrozavodsk State University gleb.yarovoy@mail.ru For more information of the ISSK, e.g. the Final Reports of the previous Summer Schools see PetrSU website: http://petrsu.ru/faculties/politology/int_sum_sch.html
Annex 1. Please complete the following form in order we could send you a visa invitation on behalf of Petrozavodsk State University. Surname: Name: Date of birth: Sex: Citizenship: Country of birth: Place of birth: Country of permanent residence: Region of residence: Place where you apply for a visa: Place of work: Work address: Position in your company: Number of passport: Date of issue: Date of expiry: Issued by: NB! Please, add the scanned copies of your ID or passport to this document. Please, inform us about any food restrictions that you might have here.
Annex 2 Instructions for Russian citizens who wish to receive the visa invitation from the Aleksanteri Institute at the University of Helsinki Please indicate the following data and send it to vie-maisterikoulu@helsinki.fi by 15 April 2011. The Aleksanteri Institute then sends the invitations either as one list to the PetrSU or as individual documents to each. * Name ( ).. * Date of birth * Place of birth.. * Citizenship * Passport number. * Date of issue.. * Date of expiry. * Dates of the visit to Finland: 10-14 May, 2011.