The Finnish Scientific Advisory Board for Defense (MATINE) and National Emergency Supply Agency (NESA) have granted research funding for two interrelated research projects by the Finnish Institute of International Affairs. These research projects will be carried out between 1 January 2013 and 31 January 2014 in collaboration with the School of Management (International Relations), University of Tampere.

The MATINE funded research project will analyse the international strategic shift from territorial geopolitics towards the geopolitics of the global commons – sea, sky, space and cyber domain — and the implications of this transformation for Finland. A special emphasis of the project is on the global marine environment as an essential feature of the Finnish security policy.

The NESA funded research project will analyse the aspects and possibilities of national security of supply in a world that is increasingly global, inter-connected but also at the same time fragmented, as well as the implications that the increased and multifaceted interdependency brings about for national security of supply.

The aim of the research projects is to increase Finnish politico-strategic understanding of the changing trends in global security landscape, to analyse the transformation of Finnish maritime environment, and to reflect on the challenges of national security of supply.

The projects are led by Dr. Mika Aaltola, Director of the Global Security Research Programme at FIIA.

For more information:

Mika Aaltola, +358 (0)9 432 7780, mika.aaltola@fiia.fi

Harri Mikkola, +358 (0)9 432 7792, harri.mikkola@fiia.fi