Arctic World Politics University of Lapland

Overview

The Arctic is deeply entangled with world politics and the large global challenges of our time. Climate change and global warming have a profound impact on Arctic geographies, societies and ways of life. Growing external interest in the region’s natural resources and transport routes has moved the region into the epicentre of broad geopolitical concerns and global divisions and tensions. 

Yet, knowledge and experiences of Arctic peoples, societies and communities – including Indigenous peoples – can profoundly challenge these dominant narratives and framings of the Arctic and provide alternative, decolonial and critical perspectives and agency to world politics and global change. Never has there been such demand for new, multidisciplinary knowledge on the Arctic region and its connections to the rest of the world.

Career opportunities

This Arctic World Politics programme from University of Lapland is internationally unique and opens the graduates a wide range of career pathways in public, private and third sectors. Expertise in the Arctic region is in high demand on national, EU and international levels, and knowledge that is grounded on, and sensitive to, local and Indigenous perspectives is considered particularly valuable. Arctic and multidisciplinary specialisation is an advantage for positions that require such expertise but does not preclude employment in other posts and positions that have a broader profile. 

As a graduate in Arctic World Politics, you may work across national and international environments, for instance as a government official, or in various expert positions in international institutions, non-governmental organisations, higher education, media, think tanks and private enterprises. The degree is research oriented and provides a solid ground also for a research career and PhD studies.