Empowerment as a part of the peace and stability in the European North: a case of Lapland

Abstract

In the article I see the social, political and economical exclusion of the North as a part of the state and superpower-centric international system lasting until the end of the Cold War. My argument is that the structure of international system has changed in the last two decades. In the European North we are moving from the realist peace and security toward security communities and the democratic peace. Because of structural changes in the system the security paradigm is also changing. The security threats are now economical, environmental and social not the military conflict between the states. My argument is that the structural change and new security paradigms give possibilities for empowerment and inclusions for the people in the North. Simplistically, the realist peace and security means power for the people with material and military capabilities. Democratic peace means more diversified political actors and possibilities from disempowerment to empowerment also in the European North.