Expressions of Intent for International Polar Year 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Crisis and Welfare in the Arctic  (Crisis and Welfare in the Arctic)

Outline
Throughout the Arctic, communities have experienced periods of collapse and reorganisation. These periods of transition are among other things characterised by conflict and intense negotiation of the appropriate strategies to pursue in order to overcome the crisis and establish a meaningful level of welfare. The collapse of the Soviet Union which had devastating consequences for the indigenous peoples in Chukotka is but one example of a crisis which has had to be overcome. The building of a more political and economic independent Home Rule in Greenland is also an example of an Arctic population which is striving to overcome the crisis experienced in the wake of colonialism. Such processes confront the communities with new dilemmas and challenges to existing welfare strategies. Arctic peoples’ cultural identity and their political aspirations are closely linked to the negotiations taking place during times of crisis and rebuilding as well as to their perception of welfare, the good life, risk, and threats. The question of crisis and welfare has become even more critical due to the global processes which communities are involved in. As a consequence, communities continuously face standards, indicators, priorities and perceptions of welfare and crisis unfamiliar to them or incongruent with their perspectives and everyday life. Furthermore, the global climate changes confront the Arctic peoples with severe crisis scenarios which potentially will bring about a revision of the present welfare-system. Through cross-cultural and comparative studies based on theories and methods from anthropology, history and eskimology the project aims at investigating strategies to overcome crisis and to establish welfare – but also the complex processes and negotiations taking place during such periods of transition. Both historical and contemporary perspectives are integrated when investigating the follow issues in Greenland and Chukotka:·How do people perceive crisis and risk and how does it influence action and institution building?·How are strategies for welfare negotiated and established in periods of transition?·How does historical factors influence on the contextualisation of welfare strategies·What significance does welfare and crisis have in relation to cultural identity and processes of self-determination?·How may the comparative focus on Chukotka and Greenland contribute to the scientific and public debate on welfare and crisis management in the Arctic and in general?

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project focuses on crucial social, cultural and economic practices, processes and interactions which influence the direction of development in two Arctic regions. The primary focus on crisis and welfare strategies is linked to institution building and political aspirations in a globalized world. The project applies a multi-disciplinary and encompassing analysis in order to integrate processes, perceptions and strategies found at the community level and in its sphere of interaction. The project wants to engage in the scientific and public debate on crisis management and welfare strategies in the Arctic.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project is based on a comparison of Greenland and Chukotka. Apart from the research team, an international group of nine researchers are associated with the projects as advisers. The project shares a number of overlapping interests with other social science projects (i.e. SLICA).

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
Greenland (Upernavik and Nuuk)Russia (Chukotka)

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 10/06-11/06      05/07-06/07      
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
No significant logistic support is required.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
NO - See letter to all Danish researchers from the Danish National IPY Committee. The letter is available at http://www.dpc.dk/Res&Log/IPY/Endorsement.pdf

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?
YES

The three-year project is expected to start in 2006 if funding is provided. Thus, the project will run during the IPY year.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The project will be run as a self-managed and free-standing project based in Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies at University of Copenhagen, Denmark. A group of nine researchers associated to the three-person research team will meet twice a year to discuss methodological, ethical, theoretical and empirical problems.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
Information material is provided to communities in advance. All fieldworks are initiated with community hearings to furnish local influence on research plans, communication strategies, involvement of local people and follow-up strategies. A Ph.D. and a post doc project constitute the educational aspects of the project.

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document?
The strategy for social science data sharing with communities is decided upon at the community hearings and with individual interests groups. Data sharing with other research projects is expected to take place through conference and workshop participation as well as through a welfare conference organised by the research team.

How is it proposed to fund the project?
Danish National Science FoundationUniversity fundingPrivate funds

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
None

PROPOSER DETAILS

Associate Professor Frank Sejersen
Eskimology and Arctic Studies, Department of Cross-Cultural and Regional Studies
University of Copenhagen
Strandgade 100H
1401 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Tel: +45 35 32 96 67
Mobile: +45 23 70 82 34
Fax: +45 35 32 96 61
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation