Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

CANADA #8:Arctic Geopolitical developments and its contribution to multination state theory  (Arctic Geopolitical developments and its contribution to multination state theory)

Outline
Greenland, Nunavut, and perhaps other Arctic geopolitical units offer unparalleled opportunities to study and critique the multination state theory that is increasingly proposed as an alternative model to the nation-state model that has dominated world geopolitics for roughly five centuries, and the globalization model that has increasingly taken its place in recent decades. These geopolitical units offer significant research advantages in that they generally have relatively small populations, which enables certain socioeconomic forces to be witnessed on a smaller scale that is easier to analyze; relatively remote locations and recent political histories that limit outside influences, which reinforces the same; and greater aboriginal ethnic identity and political power than in most locations. Both were established along ethnolinguistic lines, are democratic, and are components of federations, and hence are arguably creations of multination state theory. Phase One of this research would commence with a thorough review of the development of multination state theory, including interviews with leading practitioners. This research will enable the development of a detailed research plan that would enable the hypothesis to be tested. This research plan will be reviewed by peers before implementation. Phase Two, Implementation will probably require interviews with Inuit leaders and elders, and researchers, in Greenland and Nunavut, as well as collection of appropriate statistical indicators. The hypothesis can thus be tested for its accuracy, and resulting data will probably allow the stage to be set for multination state theory to be critiqued and improved, if the hypothesis is accurate.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The purpose of this research will be to explore the hypothesis that ethnic-based democratic Arctic geopolitical units offer considerable practical experience which is directly applicable to multination state theory. This fits into the human dimension theme, because it investigates the cultural, historical, and social processes that are shaping circumpolar human societies, and may identify unique contributions and lessons for global cultural diversity and citizenship.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
Phase One – Background. The first interviewees will probably include Ron Dart, of the University College of the Fraser Valley, who spent two years in northern Finland studying the cultural development of the Lapp people, Claude Beauchamp of the Nunavut Department of Culture, Language, Elders, and Youth, who spent four years in Greenland studying the cultural and political development of the Greenlandic people, and Jack Hicks of the University of Laval. See below for international coordination that will be pursued upon receipt of support in principle from IPY.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Phase Two – will require some field work in at least Nunavut and Greenland. Precise locations and times of stay will be determined by the research plan finalized in Phase One.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: Phase One 01/05 – 05/07      Phase Two 06/07 – 08/07      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
For Phase One, roughly one month of full-time work would be spread out over 30 months, and this time would be taken off from regular employment. This financial loss must be considered in logistic support needs. Up to 3 trips may be needed to Arctic locations for interviews and background research. The travel schedule for Phase Two will require two full-time months and an uncertain travel component. Wage recovery – 1 month in Phase One and 2 months in Phase Two at $5,000/month. Travel Expenses – 2 short trips at $2,000 in Phase One ($4,000 total), 1 long trip $7,000 in Phase Two. Miscellaneous Expenses: $1,000 in Phase One, $2,000 in Phase Two

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
No

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?
Consortium
National agency
Own support

This proposal is consistent with the goals and purpose of SSHRC and the Department of Foreign Affairs, so funding would be sought from those sources. Universities that have programs into which this proposal would likely fit, and thus may be willing to provide funding and/or peer and logistical support, include the Universities of Copenhagen, Laval, Lethbridge, Arctic, Leeds, and Aberdeen.

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
This pre-proposal has been reviewed and is being submitted by the Canadian Steering Committee (CSC). Ongoing discussions will integrate this pre-proposal into a larger network of related national and international initiatives. The CSC has initially sorted this pre-proposal into: Healthy and Sustainable Communities: Policy and Governance

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
New

If IPY accepts the research proposal in principle, then an effort will be made to fit the research into an existing framework through the institutions named above. This would affect the management structure and funding arrangements, but not the hypothesis. Pending acceptance by one or more of these organizations, a logistical arrangement would be established and research would commence.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be primarily an independent effort. For Phase One, one day every two months would be taken from work to devote to the research, in addition to evening and weekend online research. For Phase Two, peer input will have helped critique and improve the research plan which was a primarily focus of Phase One.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Results for the research will be organized into a formal presentation for exhibition on request. The paper will also result in a research paper that will be submitted to appropriate journals. If the hypothesis is correct, the project will provide clear research directions for later research.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
This will be a qualitative research project and so standard data management techniques will be applied. This will include data backups in two separated locations, and maintenance of confidence where applicable.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Uncertain support. Please see above.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
Background on multination state theory: Considerable ethnolinguistic and anthropological research in the past twenty years has focussed on cultural homogenization in developing regions. The loss of indigenous cultures in the face of a spreading global culture, with English as the primary lingua franca contains both positive and negative recurring themes, regardless of the setting. Positive impacts generally include the reduction or elimination of social barriers to women; greater access to technology, health services, and education; a reduction or elimination of tribal warfare; and increased total societal wealth. Negative impacts generally include the loss of culturally positive traditions, languages and practices, a vacuum that is often filled with substance abuse; the creation of new ethnic conflicts; increase in social economic stratification and unemployment; irresponsible environmental damage due to poorly planned development; disconnect from traditional economic activities that render certain societal me! mbers, mainly older men, economically dependent; family breakdown; and sometimes a culture of poverty or the creation of new societal barriers that make portions of the population unable to improve their economic lives. The nation-state model has appeared increasingly irrelevant in the face of globalization. In addition to this, the propensity of the nation-state model to create war has led to the consideration of alternatives. An increasingly successful alternative, the multination state model, combines recognition of transborder and global economic forces, with the drive for ethnic self-determination which underlies the nation-state model. The hallmark of multination states are ethnically-defined geopolitical units collected together in the framework of a democratic, assymetrical federation. The European Union is the clearest example of this. Multinational thinking has also contributed to the development of Greenland and Nunavut into publicly governed ethnic-based geopolitical units within larger federations

PROPOSER DETAILS

Mr Peter Scholz
Box 11220 , Iqaluit, NU


X0A 1H0
Canada

Tel: (867) 979-1753
Mobile: no
Fax: no
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation