The first issue of this journal is truly a mix of peoples, economies and politics about and from the region. The first article, by Professor Tuija Hautala-Hirvioja of the University of Lapland, introduces the early Sámi artists Johan Turi, Nils Nilsson Skum and John Savio and the representations of the North in their work.
At the same time, the author tells the story of the development of Sami art in the Nordic countries. Pia Skaffari and Sanna Väyrynen, researchers from the University of Lapland, tackle the issue of prostitution in the Barents Region in the second article. They analyse prostitution in the region as a social issue by exploring the subjective experiences of Russian women involved in this practice. The third article, by several writers from the Barents Region, considers recent economic and political developments from the perspective of local communities across the region. The article discusses how ideas about sustainability and neoliberal governance meet in recent community development. In the first issue of this journal, we are also pleased to introduce four “academically young” researchers from different parts of the region and their research interests, as well as book reviews that are of regional relevance. Read the lastest issue here.
