The project examines Finnish development cooperation mapping projects that were executed in different parts of the world, including Nepal, Namibia, Tanzania, Bangladesh, and Egypt between 1970 and 2000. The project examines the mobilities of cartographical knowledge and Finnish cartographic experts on different scales. The project analyses how, why and in what type of roles did Finnish actors participated in these projects and why different actors (donors, recipients) considered mapping and maps important for development. The project also considers the societal and cultural implications of the mobilities of cartographical knowledge and mapping practices. The project is based on archival research and oral history interviews. The project provides a novel conceptualization of “development cartography” and develops further the methodologies constituting research on the mobilities of knowledge via its comparative geographical research setting.

2023

2027