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EU - Sámi Relations: Strategic Narrative Analysis of the EU and the Sámi People in Light of Green Colonialism, Consultation, and Inclusion in Decision-Making Processes

Häsler, Kristin LU (2024) EUHR18 20241
European Studies
Abstract
The Sámi people are the only recognised Indigenous people in Europe. Historically, they have not only been oppressed and colonialised, but also not been as included in, or consulted on decision-making processes by the governments of the countries they live in. The European Union is seen as a trailblazer for human rights and equality, in addition to being a determined actor within the green energy transition. The latter is partially implemented through green energy developments and critical raw material extractions in northern Scandinavia – or Sápmi, the land of the Sámi. In this context, this thesis examines the EU-Sámi relationship, based on the narratives that both actors portray, conjointly in relation to a lack of research on this... (More)
The Sámi people are the only recognised Indigenous people in Europe. Historically, they have not only been oppressed and colonialised, but also not been as included in, or consulted on decision-making processes by the governments of the countries they live in. The European Union is seen as a trailblazer for human rights and equality, in addition to being a determined actor within the green energy transition. The latter is partially implemented through green energy developments and critical raw material extractions in northern Scandinavia – or Sápmi, the land of the Sámi. In this context, this thesis examines the EU-Sámi relationship, based on the narratives that both actors portray, conjointly in relation to a lack of research on this particular relationship. Through the development of a theoretical framework with influences from colonial and postcolonial scholarship, strategic narratives, and the decent consultation hierarchy, the aim of this thesis is to better understand the dynamics of and influences on the EU-Sámi relationship. The method used for this is a narrative analysis inspired by the work of Miskimmon et al. and Labov.
The study reveals that there are two main aspects that overshadow the relationship, one related to colonial legacies and the postcolonial system in which the EU and the Sámi exist, and the second aspect related to climate change and the connected green energy transition. Furthermore, while both actors’ narratives stray away from each other in a number of areas, they perhaps most importantly align when it comes to the willingness and determination to have the Sámi people participate in decision-making processes and to consult them on matters of importance. (Less)
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author
Häsler, Kristin LU
supervisor
organization
course
EUHR18 20241
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
EU, Sámi, green colonialism, colonial legacies, strategic narratives, decent consultation hierarchy, European affairs, Indigenous affairs, green energy transition, Arctic, European Studies
language
English
id
9159065
date added to LUP
2024-06-11 15:42:11
date last changed
2024-06-11 15:42:11
@misc{9159065,
  abstract     = {{The Sámi people are the only recognised Indigenous people in Europe. Historically, they have not only been oppressed and colonialised, but also not been as included in, or consulted on decision-making processes by the governments of the countries they live in. The European Union is seen as a trailblazer for human rights and equality, in addition to being a determined actor within the green energy transition. The latter is partially implemented through green energy developments and critical raw material extractions in northern Scandinavia – or Sápmi, the land of the Sámi. In this context, this thesis examines the EU-Sámi relationship, based on the narratives that both actors portray, conjointly in relation to a lack of research on this particular relationship. Through the development of a theoretical framework with influences from colonial and postcolonial scholarship, strategic narratives, and the decent consultation hierarchy, the aim of this thesis is to better understand the dynamics of and influences on the EU-Sámi relationship. The method used for this is a narrative analysis inspired by the work of Miskimmon et al. and Labov.
The study reveals that there are two main aspects that overshadow the relationship, one related to colonial legacies and the postcolonial system in which the EU and the Sámi exist, and the second aspect related to climate change and the connected green energy transition. Furthermore, while both actors’ narratives stray away from each other in a number of areas, they perhaps most importantly align when it comes to the willingness and determination to have the Sámi people participate in decision-making processes and to consult them on matters of importance.}},
  author       = {{Häsler, Kristin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{EU - Sámi Relations: Strategic Narrative Analysis of the EU and the Sámi People in Light of Green Colonialism, Consultation, and Inclusion in Decision-Making Processes}},
  year         = {{2024}},
}