Beyond the pejorative : sphere of influence in international theory

This study undertakes to contest the concept of sphere of infl uence from a historical perspective with a focus on normative questions and international order. While the concept of sphere of infl uence is frequently used in political parlance, it has not been studied within the discipline of International Relations. What is more, the term ”sphere of infl uence” is used in a pejorative sense to criticise Russian foreign policy. The research identifi es the pejorative uses of the concept and then proceeds to discuss normative aspects of spheres of infl uence in international theory. In the process, sphere of influence is transformed from a map metaphor into a concept which encompasses issues of justice and international order. The history of the concept of sphere of infl uence begins with identifying how it acquired its pejorative ring, that is, the concept became associated with the foreign policy of Russia. What follows are four chapters on the history and theory of spheres of infl uence. The fi rst episode explores historical examples such as suzerainty and colonialism, as well as the emergence of a hierarchical international order. The second reveals the untapped pool of ideas related to international order, sovereignty, great powers, the balance of power and non-intervention in the English School theory. The pluralist and solidarist underpinnings of international society come alive as a framework for linking the concept of sphere of infl uence to conceptualisations of international order. Spheres of infl uence are situated at the equilibrium point of a pendulum which sweeps an arc from the sovereign nation-state at one end to humanity at the other. The third chapter looks into theories on spheres of infl uence “between nation and humanity” which were developed in the turmoil of the world wars. The ideas of Friedrich Naumann, Carl Schmitt, E.H. Carr, James Burnham, Walter Lippmann and George Orwell focus more on bringing about peace than causing war and confl ict. Finally, a chapter on the Cold War, drawing on the example of the Cuban Missile Crisis, explores the period in history which has made the strongest impact on the present understanding of sphere of infl uence. It becomes clear that even Cold War spheres of infl uence are a source of theory which we have ignored. Once the historical and theoretical roots of the concept have been unveiled, Russian ideas on international order and infl uence beyond state borders are analysed in order to problematise the Western canon dealing with “Russia’s sphere of infl uence”. The Russian idea of a sphere of influence is clouded by an indecision in choosing between the pluralist and solidarist international orders. The Russian authors’ unwavering defence of sovereignty and simultaneous admiration of ”the concert of great responsible powers” has resulted in an inability to openly propose a system of international governance with spheres of influence. The unique contribution of this dissertation is to put forward normative considerations pertaining to spheres of infl uence instead of using the concept in a pejorative sense. The study connects the English School tradition, post-war international order, the Cold War and Russian thought with the concept of sphere of infl uence with the aim of initiating a debate which will enrich the discipline with a fresh outlook on an old but topical concept

Creativity and the Study of Emotions: A Perspective of an International Relations Scholar

The article discusses creativity from a methodological perspective. It takes the point of view of an International Relations scholar commenting on the constraints and possibilities of creativity in incorporating emotions, the sublime and subliminal in academic research. The article uses examples from a study of violence and compassion in Chechnya and examines emotions and open-mindedness as means to tap into something deeper than what the intellectualist model of thinking encourages. It is argued that by welcoming emotions into the field of human sciences the researcher can better harness creative sensibilities

Suomi ja kriittisen militarismitutkimuksen tarve

Peer reviewe

Suomi ja kriittisen militarismitutkimuksen tarve

Peer reviewe

Post-Soviet Russian Culture : Anomy, Desecularization and the Conservative Turn

Peer reviewe

Ergonomiakoulutus maatalouslomittajille osana maaseutuyrittäjien hyvinvointihanketta (MAAHY) 2008–2011

Opinnäytetyö toteutettiin projektimuotoisesti osana Maaseutuyrittäjien hyvinvointihankkeen (MAAHY) 2008–2011 maatalouslomittajille suunnattuja Hyvinvointi III-koulutuksia. Projektin toimeksiantaja on MAAHY-hanke. MAAHY-hankkeen aikaisemmista maatalouslomittajille suunnatuista Hyvinvointikoulutuksista I ja II sekä hankkeeseen valmistuneista opinnäytetöistä on noussut esille tarve kehittää maatalouslomittajan ergonomiaa. Tämä projekti vastaa tarpeeseen kehittää maatalouslomittajan ergonomiaa. Maatalouslomittajan työn ergonomisia haasteita ovat tuki- ja liikuntaelimistön yksipuolinen kuormittuminen ja vaihteleva työympäristö. Projektin tarkoitus oli edistää maatalouslomittajien ergonomiaa ja siten lisätä heidän työhyvinvointiaan. Projektin tavoitteena oli lisätä maatalouslomittajien tietoutta ergonomiasta, jota he voivat hyödyntää työssään. Keinona tavoitteen saavuttamiseksi järjestettiin kolme ergonomiakoulutusta keväällä 2011. Ergonomiakoulutukset sisälsivät kaksi ergonomialuentoa, erilaisia liikuntaosioita sekä fyysisen toimintakyvyn mittauksia. Koulutukset olivat kolmepäiväisiä ja ne olivat sisällöltään samanlaisia. Koulutuksiin osallistui kaiken kaikkiaan 78 lomittajaa Lapin läänistä. Koulutusten yhteydessä lomittajat täyttivät kirjallisen palautelomakkeen. Tulokset pohjautuvat pääasiassa kirjallisiin palautteisiin, mutta niissä on huomioitu myös suulliset palautteet. Projektin tulosten perusteella voidaan tehdä sellainen johtopäätös, että lomittajien ergonomiatietämystä voidaan lisätä tällaisella ergonomiakoulutuksella. Esille nousi kuitenkin tarve toteuttaa käytännön ergonomiaohjausta työympäristössä osana ergonomiakoulutusta. Ergonomiakoulutusta tulisi siis kehittää edelleen, jotta sillä voitaisiin edistää lomittajien ergonomiaa. Ergonomian kehittämiselle on tarve maatalouslomittajan työssä.This Bachelor’s Thesis has been accomplished as part of rural entrepreuners’ welfare-program 2008-2011. The program included welfare educations I, II and III for substitute workers of agriculture. This project is part of the third education. The need for this project has come out from the feedback of the earlier educations I and II and the survey reports made for the program before. According to the received feedback and the survey reports there was need to develop the ergonomics among the substitute workers. The ergonomic challenges in their work consist of the partial strain of musculoskeletal system and variable working environment. The purpose of this project was to develop the ergonomics among the substitute workers of agriculture and in that way to increase the welfare in the work. The aim of this project was to increase the knowledge of the ergonomics that they can take advantage in their work. The way to achieve the aim was to arrange three ergonomic educations in spring 2011. Ergonomic educations included two ergonomic lessons and different kinds of exercises and the measures for physical ability to function. The educations went on for three days and they all were similar. On the whole there were 78 participants in the educations from Lapland Province. After the educations the feedback was gathered in written form from the participants. The results are mostly based on the written feedback but also the verbal feedback was taken into account. According to the results the conclusion of project is that the knowledge of ergonomics can be increased with this kind of ergonomic educations. To get the better results the practical ergonomic guidance should also be included in the ergonomic educations