Workshop on Finland–Japan Cooperation in a Fractured Arctic
A workshop on Finland–Japan cooperation in a fractured Arctic brought together experts from Finland and Japan to examine how the war in Ukraine and the changing international environment are reshaping Arctic cooperation.
The workshop was part of the Research Council of Finland-funded project titled “The Russian Invasion of Ukraine and the Fractured Arctic: Finnish–Japanese Partnership to Shape Future Arctic Cooperation” and was organized by the Northern Institute for Environmental and Minority Law, in collaboration with the UArctic Law Thematic Network and the UArctic Chair in Arctic Legal Research and Education.
The discussions focused on how Finland and Japan are adapting their approaches to multilateral Arctic cooperation and bilateral collaboration amid growing geopolitical tensions. Participants also explored how subnational governments and non-state actors have responded to these changing circumstances. Particular attention was given to the war's impacts on northern Indigenous peoples, including their lives, cross-border connections, and opportunities for collaboration. The workshop also examined how the changing geopolitical environment has affected academic cooperation, cross-border research, and researchers' work.