Critical Arctic Studies (5cr)

Evaluation scale

H-5

Objective

By the end of this course, the participants are able to:
- develop an understanding of critique and a critical attitude in research
- obtain a comprehension of different critical approaches that can be applied in social, political, legal and human sciences
- identify motivations for critical research in the context of Arctic developments and phenomena
- discuss critically current Arctic developments and environmental, socio-economic, legal and political debates
- apply critical approaches in one’s own research.

Execution methods

Reading the articles, group work, presentation and participation in the discussions, and a learning journal.

A course with preliminary reading task, an introductory lecture, 10 h of reading circle meetings and an exercise based on a selection of articles, group work, presentations and discussions. This course is preferably an in situ course.

Accomplishment methods

1. A reading task before the course
2. Introductory lecture: What is critique?
3. Governmentality, power and resistance
4. Biopolitics, adaptation and resilience
5. Affects, emotions and power
6. Heterotopia in between utopias and dystopias
7. Environmentality: The making of environmental subjectivities
8. Exercise in critical analysis
9. Presentations of exercises and discussion

Content

Doctoral students from social sciences, legal studies, education and art and design all benefit from this course by gaining an understanding of what critique and a critical attitude in research means. The course introduces different critical approaches that can be applied broadly in studies of social, economic, political and legal issues. The context for the discussions is the Arctic with its various debates concerning its peoples, societies, environment, resources and envisioned futures. The need for critical research in Arctic studies is discussed, with a view to opening up alternative viewpoints to Arctic developments. The course introduces several critical approaches that enable the examination of different forms of power and ways to exercise it in contemporary society.

Assessment criteria, satisfactory (1)

Fail (0): Performance is highly deficient or erroneous. The work may be based on serious misunderstandings.

Sufficient (1): The author has identified some key concepts and aspects in the research field. Performance is lacking in scope, superficial, or corresponds poorly to the assignment. The author merely lists things out of context, or addresses them one-sidedly. The work may contain errors or obscurities.

Satisfactory (2): The author has identified the key concepts and aspects in the research field. The performance mainly repeats the content of the course or addresses them one-sidedly.

Assessment criteria, good (3)

Good (3): The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. Performance corresponds to the assignment, manifesting skills to analyse and justify the content of the course. The work may contain some deficiencies.

Very good (4): The author has addressed the issue comprehensively. Performance manifests comprehension, insight, and skills to critically analyse and argue the content of the course.

Assessment criteria, excellent (5)

Excellent (5): The work demonstrates independent and original thinking, and it is exceptionally well written and implemented.

Qualifications

The course is targeted to all doctoral researchers at the University of Lapland.