Reconstitution of Northwest Russia as an economic, social and political space: the role of cross-border interaction

Abstract
The study investigates the ongoing formation of a new economic, social and political space in Northwest Russia in connection with cross-border interaction. It is organised in terms of the tripartite setting of economic, social and political space.

The investigation of economic space focusses on the role of private actors in the outreach of Northwest Russia towards the external world. The post-doc study by  Dmitry Zimin concerns Russian corporations, and that by Pirjo Jukarainen  young people's attitudes. The analysis of a social space focuses on labour markets. Tuukka Arosara prepares his Ph.D thesis under the supervision of  Pertti Koistinen. In the investigation of political space, coordinated by Ilkka Liikanen, the dissertation project of Alexander Izotov deals with the local discourses of border and cross-border interaction in the border town of Sortavala. Elena Belokourova analyses Russian federalism and region-building.

The synthesis of the three strands of the project will occur in two stages: as a review of regionalisation patterns and geopolitical orientations in Northwest Russia, and as a volume  "Northwest Russia Seeking Its Place in Russia and Europe".

The project will be carried out at the Karelian Institute, University of Joensuu, in 2004-06, in cooperation with the University of Tampere, and Russian academic institutions in St. Petersburg, Moscow and Petrozavodsk.

Project leader: Jean Monnet prof. Heikki Eskelinen, Karelian Institute, University of Joensuu, PO Box 111, FIN-80101 Joensuu; email: Heikki.Eskelinen(at)joensuu.fi

Researchers
Ilkka Liikanen, University of Joensuu, Ilkka.Liikanen(at)joensuu.fi
Pertti Koistinen, University of Tampere, pertti.koistinen(at)uta.fi
Pirjo Jukarainen, University of Joensuu, Pirjo.Jukarainen(at)uta.fi
Dmitry Zimin, University of Joensuu, dmitry.zimin(at)joensuu.fi
Tuukka Arosara, University of Joensuu, tuukka.arosara(at)joensuu.fi
Aleksander Izotov, University of Joensuu, aleksander.izotov(at)joensuu.fi
Elena Belokurova, European University in St.Petersburg, belokur(at)eu.spb.ru

Project description