2508.18 - Politics in the West Nordic and Arctic Region

2508.18

Politics in the West Nordic and Arctic Region

10

Bachelor degree or equivalent with adequate component of social science

This course offers students an understanding of political institutions and political actors in the West Nordic region as well as the Arctic Region. The course provides an understanding of different theories and concepts related to these themes. The course perspective and the challenges in the West Nordic and Arctic Regions are primarily seen and analyzed from the position and perspectives of the Faroe Islands. The course purpose is to provide students with analytical tools to use for academic work related to the political challenges in the West Nordic and Arctic region.

The course focuses on political processes in the West Nordic and Arctic Regions. From this follows a focus on political institutions, political actors as well as formal arenas for decision making. This includes a focus on the nation states, self-ruling entities, and decision making in the West Nordic as well as the Arctic councils. The course explores the understanding of a West Nordic region. The region is treated from the view of the Faroe Islands. Therefore, the course also touches upon the Faroe Islands´ position within the Kingdom of Denmark, but also on specific political institutions in the Faroe Islands. The focus on Faroe Islands is treated in a comparative perspective by considering similarities and differences related to other countries in the West Nordic region. Moreover, the course focuses on the relation between the West Nordic council and the Arctic council. Finally, the course stresses the political challenges in the Arctic region, where small and micro political units in the West Nordic Region face super powers like USA, China and Russia. Students will work with the different themes by combining the use of theories and empirical data and herby train their ability to formulate research questions.

The course is a combination of teacher presentations, working group activity, student presentations, and participation of representatives from political actors or institutions.

At the end of the course the students will be able to: 1. Describe and present theories related to the course themes 2. Critically assess the presented theories and concepts 3. Demonstrate analytical skills in applying theories and concepts to political challenges in the West Nordic and Arctic Region 4. To formulate an independent research question related to the course themes and to discuss possible implications and/or solutions

Oral synopsis exam (1300-1400 words)

External

7-

800-900 pages

Hallbera Fríða West