Social and cultural changes in the European Arctic

Adam Stępień, Karolina Banul, Annette Scheepstra, Kim van Dam, Kirsi Latola, Timo Koivurova

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

This report’s overview of the region’s sociocultural landscape includes innovativeand growing Arctic cities, thinning-out rural areas, demographic challenges, anddependence on extractive and primary industries. Indigenous peoples oftenexperience these elements in distinct manners.The EU has a number of programmes that support socioeconomic development and co-operation in the North, as well as relevant transport policies and environmental regulations. When designing and carrying out relevant policies, the EU decision-makers should take into account: the region’s intra-regional and core-periphery connectivity; power structures, social conflicts and cultural diversity; human-nature interactions; as well as the state of innovation, entrepreneurship and education.An EU focus on entrepreneurship and innovation within co-operation and cohesion programmes should be continued and strengthened, with greater attention to gender issues and indigenous peoples. In particular, the activism of dynamic indigenous youth should be supported. Intra-regional accessibility and connectivity, including challenging cross-border projects, must not be neglected in the light of a focus on core-periphery connections within frameworks such as the Trans-European Transport network. The special characteristics and needs of Arctic cities and their importance for regional development need to be taken into account in EU policies and programmes.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationStrategic Assessment of Development of the Arctic
Subtitle of host publicationAssessment conducted for the European Union
PublisherPublications Office of the European Union
Chapter9
Pages117-132
Number of pages16
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2014
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • social changes
  • cultural changes
  • arctic

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