Exploring Soft Power in the Arctic: Janos Nieminen Returns to Longyearbyen

We are pleased to welcome back Janos Nieminen to Artica Svalbard this April as he continues his ongoing research in the Arctic.

Nieminen is a data scientist with a background in mathematics and theoretical philosophy, currently pursuing a PhD focused on counterfactual reasoning. With over fifteen years of experience as a software developer, his work bridges technical expertise with philosophical inquiry, exploring the political and symbolic dimensions of state presence in fragile environments.

Nieminen is currently developing a non-fiction book about Svalbard, examining how countries such as Russia and China maintain influence in the Arctic through architecture, infrastructure, and everyday routines. His research is grounded in close observation and fieldwork in places such as Barentsburg and Longyearbyen, where subtle details—signage, buildings, and spatial organisation—offer insight into broader geopolitical strategies.

During his residency, he will continue investigating how states assert forms of “soft presence” in the Arctic: nuanced ways of signalling influence without relying on formal claims or military power. Focusing on the built environments of Longyearbyen, Barentsburg, and potentially Pyramiden, his work considers how architecture, infrastructure, and daily life reflect differing models of governance and international presence.

This research will contribute to a series of essays forming the basis of his forthcoming book, exploring how geopolitical strategies both shape and are shaped by the Arctic’s fragile and rapidly changing environment.