Kuva: Carl Muth
In his doctoral dissertation, Yue Wang examines intentions and unintended consequences in international cooperation, focusing on China–Nordic Arctic scientific research cooperation. Drawing on documents, interviews, and participant observation, Wang shows that intentions evolve as cooperation unfolds and that ‘science for diplomacy’ goals often remain unstated. He also finds that unintended consequences can extend beyond the immediate partners and be shaped by individual, domestic, and wider geopolitical developments. The research reveals how international scientific cooperation operates in a changing geopolitical context and can help scientists, research institutions, and policymakers better navigate cooperation, particularly as science becomes increasingly securitised. Wang’s analytical framework also offers transferable tools for understanding and managing unintended consequences in other forms of international cooperation.
The doctoral dissertation of MA (cum laude) Yue Wang in the field of International Relations titled Intentions and Unintended Consequences in International Cooperation: China–Nordic Arctic Scientific Research Cooperation will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Management and Business at Tampere University on 8 May 2026.
The Opponent will be Docent Elina Sinkkonen from the University of Turku. The Custos will be Professor Emilian Kavalski from the Faculty of Management and Business. The dissertation was supervised by Professor Pami Aalto (Tampere University) and Research Professor Sanna Kopra (Arctic Centre, University of Lapland).