ABSTRACT
This qualitative single-case study explores how the development of new transportation routes and supply chain management practices in the Arctic creates social contradictions at the local, regional, and national levels. The Arctic railway between Finnish Lapland and the coast of the Barents Sea has a long and disputed history. The idea re-emerged; concrete planning of the project intensified during the second half of the 20th century and culminated in decisions made in the late 2010s and early 2020s. While supporters of the railway emphasized its economic benefits and the new diversity it could bring to global, national, and regional supply chains, the Arctic Corridor project’s social responsibility, cultural and environmental sustainability, and economic feasibility were questioned. This study analyzes the collision of views and interests and describes how the incompatibility of the most influential institutional logics (e.g., paying attention to economic benefits, the rights of the Sámi people and their traditional ways of living, and protection of the fragile Arctic environment) guided discussions and decision-making concerning the railway and resulted in the termination of the government-level project and minor progress of a remaining private initiative. This research is based on written reports and documents produced by public and private actors, media material, and data collected via semi-structured interviews and participatory observation.
