Industry, War and Stalin's Battle for Resources: The Arctic and the Environment

Description

In this book the territory of Pechenga, located well above the Arctic circle between Russia, Finland and Norway, holds the key to understanding the geopolitical situation of the Arctic today. With specific focus on the local nickel industry of the region, Lars Rowe explores the interaction between commercial and state security concerns in the Soviet Union. Through the lens of this local industry a larger historical context is unravelled – the nature of Soviet-Finnish relations after the Russian Revolution, Soviet international relations strategies during the Second World War and the nature of the Stalinist economy in the early post-war years. By presenting this environmentally focused history of a small corner of the Arctic, Rowe offers the historical context needed to understand the current geopolitical climate of the Polar North. Title Page Copyright Page Contents Illustrations Figures Maps Table Acknowledgements Abbreviations, acronyms and Russian terms used Chapter 1: Introduction The significance of Petsamo Settling of the Soviet North, and Stalinist totalitarianism Chapter 2: In the Finnish corridor Finnish independence and civil war The Tartu Peace Treaty: Petsamo becomes Finnish Petsamo is explored INCO, Mond Nickel and Petsamon Nikkeli The strategic metal Chapter 3: War The Winter War: Soviet reconnaissance The Moscow parenthesis: Petsamo in the spotlight26 Petsamo in German war industry 1941–4 Petsamo becomes Pechenga Chapter 4: Sovietization Damage assessment Phase one: The resurrection of Nikel Phase two: Becoming a Soviet enterprise Making haste Chapter 5: Finland builds Soviet power Jäniskoski is secured Clash of cultures Problems of security Problems and politics of supply Kleshko versus Vakava A problematic takeover Expansion and coexistence Chapter 6: Conclusion Pechenga and Soviet autarchy Totalitarian intent in a nested dictatorship Notes Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Bibliography Sources Primary and secondary material Archives Published document collections and annotations Bibliography Index