Research projects in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

As a part of the Foreign Ministry's policy planning and research activities, its Policy Planning and Research Unit carries out research projects in cooperation with Finnish and foreign partners.

Examples of partners in projects under way in 2020-2021:

• Dialogue Advisory GroupLink to another website.
• CFFP, Center for Feminist Foreign PolicyLink to another website.(Opens New Window), Germany
• CEOBS, Conflict and Environment ObservatoryLink to another website.(Opens New Window), UK
• SNV, Stiftung Neue VerantwortungLink to another website.(Opens New Window), Germany
• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)Link to another website.(Opens New Window), Germany, UK
• Women of the Arctic ryLink to another website.(Opens New Window), Finland
• The Brookings InstitutionLink to another website.(Opens New Window), USA
• Finnish Institute of International AffairsLink to another website.(Opens New Window), Finland
• Stockholm International Peace Research InstituteLink to another website.(Opens New Window) (SIPRI), Sweden
• DiploFoundationLink to another website.(Opens New Window), Switzerland
• Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceLink to another website., USA
• University of TurkuLink to another website.(Opens New Window), Finland

The final reports of the most recently completed research projects are listed below. Further information about them and projects that have been completed earlier can be requested by e-mail to STU-00@formin.fi.

• Venäjä ja turvallisuus – Tutkimus- ja asiantuntijatarjonta SuomessaLink to another website. (only in Finnish)

• Governance Prospects in Northern Iraq and Syria (pdf, 10 pages, 535 kb) 

• DiploFoundation: The future of (multilateral) diplomacy_Changes in response to COVID-19 and beyondLink to another website. (pdf, 38 pages)

• UPI: Finnish foreign policy during EU membershipLink to another website.(Opens New Window) (pdf, 34 pages)

• SIPRI: Transparency in arms procurement_limitations and opportunities for assessing global armament developmentsLink to another website.(Opens New Window) (pdf, 20 pages)

• International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA): Arctic Policies and Strategies — Analysis, Synthesis, and Trends(Opens New Window) (pdf, 5,59 Mt, 265 page)

• ETLA: Brexit and Indirect Impact Routes through Global Value Chains(Opens New Window) (711 KB)
• ECFR: Three Crises and An Opportunity: Europe’s Stake in Multilateralism(Opens New Window) (2 MB)
• Chatham House: Russia’s Military posture in the Arctic; Managing Hard Power in a ‘Low Tension’ Environment (Opens New Window)(1 MB)
• Ministry of Defence, Ministry of the Interior and Ministry for Foreign Affairs: Russia of Power-reportLink to another website.(Opens New Window)
• DiploFoundation: Mapping the challenges and opportunities of artificial intelligence for the conduct of diplomacy

• European Policy Centre (EPC): Competing priorities at the EUs external border

• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI): The New Geopolitics of Peace Operations III: Non‑traditional Security Challenges initiative:

  • Multilateral Peace Operations and the Challenges of Organized Crime

  • Multilateral Peace Operations and the Challenges of Terrorism and Violent Extremism

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR)Link to another website.: Can Europe Save the World OrderLink to another website.
• CarnegieLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Cooperation and Competition: Russia and China in Central Asia, the Russian Far East and the Arctic Link to another website.(Opens New Window)
• DiploFoundationLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Data Diplomacy: Updating diplomacy to the big data era Link to another website.(Opens New Window)
• VATT Institute for Economic ResearchLink to another website.(Opens New Window): The expected economic impacts of the EU-Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement in FinlandLink to another website.(Opens New Window)
• Erik Castrén InstituteLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Autonomous Weapon Systems an International Humanitarian Law: Out of the Loop?(Opens New Window) (pdf, 456 KB, 76 pages)
• Tampere Peace Research InstituteLink to another website.(Opens New Window): The Era of Private Peacemakers: A New Dialogic Approach to Mediation(Opens New Window)
• Solid Plan ConsultingLink to another website.(Opens New Window): EU Targeted Sanctions and Fundamental Rights(Opens New Window)
• BrookingsLink to another website.(Opens New Window):
  • Dealing with a simmering Ukraine-Russia conflictLink to another website.(Opens New Window)
  • Putin and the Kremlin are experts at reading the popular mood. And they were watching AmericaLink to another website.
  • Why small steps on Russia are better than attempts at a grand bargainLink to another website.(Opens New Window)
  • Draw red lines on Russia Link to another website.(Opens New Window)
• Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRILink to another website.(Opens New Window)): African Directions Towards an Equitable Partnership in Peace OperationsLink to another website.(Opens New Window)
• Center for Transatlantic Relations: Forward Resilience: Protecting Society in an Interconnected World (pdf)
• University of Oxford and Future of Humanity InstituteLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Existential Risk Diplomacy and Governance(Opens New Window)

• Finnish Water ForumLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Towards closer Nordic cooperation in the water sectorLink to another website.(Opens New Window) (pdf, 2,3 MB, 66 pages)

• European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFRLink to another website.): Putin’s hydra: Inside Russia’s intelligence servicesLink to another website.(Opens New Window)

• European Policy Centre (EPCLink to another website.): Europe's Troublemakers Link to another website.(Opens New Window)

• Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSISLink to another website.(Opens New Window)): An Arctic RedesignLink to another website.(Opens New Window)

• Richard Gowan: The UN and Finnish Security: a 60th Anniversary Audit

• Brookings InstitutionLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Democracy, Human Rights and the Emerging Global Order Link to another website.(Opens New Window)

• The Finnish Institute of International Affairs (FIIA)Link to another website.(Opens New Window): The Contribution of the OSCE Network of Think Tanks and Academic Institutions to the Panel of Eminent Persons Link to another website.

• Clingendael (Netherlands Institute of International Relations)Link to another website.(Opens New Window): Diplomacy in the Digital Age(Opens New Window) (pdf, 78 pages, 700 KB)

• SaferGlobeLink to another website.(Opens New Window): Nordic Arms Transfer Controls and the Arms Trade Treaty(Opens New Window) (pdf, 33 pages, 724 KB)

• Clingendael (Netherlands Institute of International Relations)Link to another website.(Opens New Window): Futures for DiplomacyLink to another website. (pdf, 4,3 MB, 85 pages)

• SIPRI: Multilateral peace operations and the challenges of organized crimeLink to another website.(Opens New Window) (pdf, 16 pages)

• SIPRI: Multilateral peace operations and the challenges of terrorism and violent extremismLink to another website.(Opens New Window) (pdf, 16 pages)

In addition to these, different departments have their own research projects. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is also involved in the government’s analysis, assessment and research activities (VN-TEASLink to another website.).