Browsing by discipline "Aluetiede"

An increasing amount of attention has recently been paid to urban growth and loss of biodiversity, which has also awakened planners to consider urban green areas and both their ecological and social values more thoroughly. Nature is, however, dynamic and diverse and has turned out to be a challenging target of planning especially with current methods. The incorporation and consideration of complex natural processes in the planning system has proved to be challenging and has raised significant issues and problems, which are the focus of this thesis. Moreover, the phenomenon is related to a wider paradigm shift in planning, where the rationalist planning tradition has had to step aside and make way to agonistic and communicative planning theories. A major focus of the study is the concept of wicked problems. The concept was developed to better understand the complex problems planners face today and which are impossible to solve with traditional planning practices. The concept of wicked problems has often been linked with the concept of clumsy solutions, which are imperfect and only partial solutions to complex problems, but accepted as such and only expected to contribute something to the solution of wicked problems. The main material used in the study has been collected though semi-structured expert interviews conducted by researcher Maija Faehnle as a part of ENSURE –research project. The interviewees represent planners and other professionals with special expertise in planning of urban green infrastructure. The main method of analysis is a thematic content analysis aimed at recognizing the main problems and challenges the planners and other professionals face in the process of planning urban green infrastructure. The problems have been grouped into themes that help recognize the interrelations between different problems and their connections to more pervasive underlying problems. The first theme is formed by problems related to the planning system. The theme also includes two sub-themes: problems between different planning levels and problems related to conflicts caused by different interests and goals. The second theme consists of problems related to planners' needs and demand for information. This theme is again divided into sub-themes related to the use of scientific expert knowledge and the experiential knowledge provided by residents and other participants. In addition, some problems arising from outside of these two themes have also been included in the analysis. Finally, the material has been used to recognize conflicts and contradictions as well as suggested solutions to the addressed problems. According to the data, planners face severe problems when planning urban green infrastructure. Many interviewees hoped for more specific norms and sizing guidelines to help protect nature in cities. However, many interviewees simultaneously wished that there would be more flexibility and adaptability in planning practices. In many cases, the goals and expectations set to different planning levels were quite ambitious. Behind the recognized problems, however, lies a more complex and wicked problem that is related to different goals and professionals not meeting properly. It also has to do with the more general complexity and wickedness of the addressed things and phenomena. When aiming at solving this wicked problem, it is crucial to recognize the wickedness and complexity of the problem and accept the clumsiness of the proposed solutions. Aiming for solutions that are too holistic and ambitious can result in more conflicts and contradictions instead of contributing to the solution of the problem at hand. Consequently, the whole process is locked.

Even though levels in walking and cycling to school in Finland are high when compared internationally, the level of active travel to school has decreased over the past decades. Meanwhile, decreases in children’s physical health and independent mobility worry researchers and policymakers worldwide. Various factors affect the decision-making regarding the means of transport to school; however the physical length and the perceived safety of the trip, by especially the parent but also the child, are seen as important factors. This master’s thesis examines the active accessibility of elementary schools in the Finnish city of Turku. The analysis is based on modelled school trips representing the shortest potential school trip via the walkable road network. Active accessibility is measured through the physical length of the potential school trip and examined against hotspots created of points representing perceived insecurity among school children. In addition to examining the current situation based on the current pupils’ home addresses and school network, this thesis aims to shed light on the future based on current development aims, projects and predictions concerning the school network, transportation systems and population. Accessibility research has been criticized for lacking contextual foundations. This thesis aims to build an adequate background for inspecting active accessibility of schools from the viewpoint of children’s active travel. This thesis also experiments using perceived insecurity as a measure of accessibility, which to my knowledge has not been done before. In addition, the thesis aims to contribute to the field of children’s geography. The methods used were based on analyses within geographical information systems. Modelled school trips were created using pupils’ home addresses as starting points and their school’s address as end points. The routing was done through calculated shortest paths in the OpenStreetMap road network, which was classified based on the walkability of road segments. The lengths of the modelled school trips were calculated and examined for each school through classification. The classification used was based on active travel thresholds appearing in literature. 1500 meters was used as the threshold of walkable distance, and 3000 meters for travelling by bike. The modelled school trips were also examined through overlay analysis with a layer containing hotspots of the children’s perceived insecurity in Turku. The hotspot layer was created by calculating the density of points expressing the pupils’ perceived fear and insecurity around their schools and on their school trips. The results show that over 80 % of the examined pupils (n=4,779) live within a 3-kilometer active travel distance to school via walkable road segments. However, there appeared great differences between different schools concerning the lengths of pupils’ school trips and the perceived insecurity around school and school trip environments. The perceived insecurity was concentrated around the center of Turku as well as the school areas. However, the reasons for these emotions were not examined due to the scale of this study. The future of active accessibility of schools in Turku seems likely to improve, provided that the current development and planning aims and projects are carried through. Especially plans concerning the improvement of walking and bike routes may result in shorter routes to school and improving perceived security. The future development of family locations is always problematic and hard to assess due to changing residential expectations and desires. There emerged many demands for further research and development concerning the materials and methods used, and the results that have arisen in this thesis. For one, more road network data is needed for researching of walking and bicycling environments. Secondly, accessibility should be further studied from the children’s point of view. Also, perceived insecurity should be further examined as an influence on accessibility. As the obtained emotion data was not examined other than in the form of a hotspot layer, the perceived insecurity data should be examined more closely as it included specific and significant information on reasons why children are feeling insecure in their every-day environments. Especially when planning pursues to develop sustainable and health-promoting environments, cities and communities should investigate and deepen their knowledge of factors restricting active travel in every population group. The goals of a safe, healthy and sustainable city are all intertwined. The development of walking and bicycling conditions might play a role in achieving these goals, in addition to making cities more lively and comfortable for all inhabitants, irrespective of the demographic group.

Finland's development cooperation with non-governmental organizations has grown in importance, especially since the 1990s and the resources allocated to development cooperation of state appropriations have been on the rise. Due to increased funding NGOs have become increasingly dependent on government support, and this has created pressures on the relationship between Ministry for Foreign Affairs and organizations. NGOs' growing dependency on the funding of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has raised questions on the use of power, and governing the activities of NGOs to increase development cooperation coherence of the state. Especially small and medium-sized NGOs are highly dependent on the funding provided by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Purpose of this study is to determine relations between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and small and medium-sized non-governmental organizations, and to explore if the Ministry for Foreign Affairs pursues direct NGOs' development cooperation project applications in certain areas and how the project applications regional placement supports Finnish bilateral aid placement. Study methods include both qualitative and quantitative methods. The primary methods of the thesis are qualitative and quantitative content analysis, complemented by interviews. The main data of the thesis consists of NGOs' development cooperation project funding applications, limited to the years 2003–2011, as well as other archives of unit for nongovernmental organizations of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Background analysis is based on books which were concerned with development cooperation in general. In addition, the data includes publications that guide the Foreign Ministry's development cooperation, as well as interviews with the NGOs. Interviewed small and medium-sized organizations consider that the project support is important instrument enabling the Finnish NGOs operate in developing countries. With the project funding supported NGOs development cooperation projects regional placements into Finland's long-term partner countries have been low in 2003–2011 although the Ministry for Foreign Affairs has recommended NGOs to carry out development projects for its long-term partner countries. The projects approved each year from 40 to 50 countries, and the regional distribution of bilateral cooperation did not appear to significantly contributed to the distribution of projects supported by the project funding, on the contrary, most of the projects carried out elsewhere than in Finland's long-term partner countries. In searching of the project funding, the main problems of NGOs are related to the administrative and financial capacity shortages. The interviewed organizations were mostly satisfied the Ministry for Foreign Affairs actions as an authority. Recommendations and priorities imposed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs will be monitored, but the Ministry is not seen to guide NGOs activities and they are allowed to operate with its own strengths and regionally where the organizations have contacts and networks. Dependence on the Ministry support is very strong, especially activities in developing countries would be almost impossible for many NGOs without the support of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs. Kepa's role of NGOs' parent organization and the trustee is an important point, especially for small NGOs. Fluent cooperation between the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Kepa is an important factor for the development of NGOs. Distribution of a wide spectrum of projects regionally impedes the monitoring and evaluation of their results, because the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, and in particular unit for non-governmental organizations does not have the resources to monitor outcomes. Also, the amount of bureaucracy should be reduced, and smaller NGOs increasingly dwindling resources and a weak economic capacity should be taken into account for project support allocation criteria. Kepa's role should be strengthened and bring it more and more, particularly in small and inexperienced NGOs development. In the area of project support partner organization's expertise and knowledge of the field should be utilized by directing small NGOs project support management to Kepa when the amount of work to the Ministry for Foreign Affairs would be substantially reduced.

Tämän pro gradu -tutkielman aiheena on tutkia ketterien ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmien ilmenemistä tilapäiseen käyttöön liittyvässä kaupunkisuunnittelussa. Tutkielman teoreettisena taustana käytetään tilapäisen käytön ja ketterien ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmien tutkimuksen ja teorian lisäksi inkrementalismia. Teoriana käytetään myös kaupunkisuunnittelun uusia suuntauksia, kuten taktista urbanismia ja tee-se-itseurbanismia. Ketterät ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmät syntyivät vastareaktiona perinteiselle menetelmälle, jota kutsutaan vesiputousmalliksi. Ketterät ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmät ovat iteratiivisia ja inkrementaalisia prosesseja, joilla pyritään nopeaan kehitykseen epävakaassa ja muuttuvassa ympäristössä. Tilapäinen käyttö puolestaan on määräaikaista ja toissijaista toimintaa, jossa aluetta käytetään muuhun tarkoitukseen kuin mihin se on alun perin suunniteltu. Tilapäinen käyttö on usein kansalaisten toimesta tapahtuvaa epävirallista toimintaa, jolla pyritään ratkomaan kaupunkiympäristössä koettuja ongelmia. Tilapäinen käyttö on nykyään otettu myös osaksi viranomaisten tekemää kaupunkisuunnittelua. Ketteriä menetelmiä ja tilapäistä käyttöä yhdistää syntyminen kritiikkinä alojensa vakiintuneisiin suunnittelumenetelmiin. Tutkielma toteutetaan kvalitatiivisena vertailututkimuksena. Tutkielmassa selvitetään ketterien ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmien erityispiirteet tutkimalla niistä kirjoitettua aineistoa. Tämän jälkeen erityispiirteitä verrataan tilapäisestä käytöstä julkaistuun aineistoon. Tutkielmani tuloksissa ketterien ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmien erityispiirteiksi nousivat mukautumiskyky muutoksiin, kommunikaatio asiakkaan ja kehittäjien välillä, itseohjautuvan tiimin käyttö, inkrementaalinen prosessi sekä iteratiivinen kehitys. Jokainen ketterien menetelmien erityistekijöistä toistui yli puolessa tilapäiseen käyttöön liittyvästä kaupunkisuunnittelusta kirjoitetussa aineistossa. Mukautumiskyky muutoksiin ilmenee tilapäisen käytön yhteydessä esimerkiksi valmiutena muuttaa suunnitelmaa milloin vaan tai olemassa olevien sääntöjen uudelleen tulkintaa. Avoin kommunikaatio lisää tilapäiseen käyttöön liittyvää vuorovaikutusta julkishallinnon ja kansalaisten välillä sekä mahdollistaa viranomaisten toimimisen taktisesti. Tutkijoiden mukaan tilapäinen käyttö on itseohjautuvaa toimintaa, minkä vuoksi viranomaisten tulisi keskittyä tilapäisen käytön mahdollistamiseen eikä puuttua sen sisältöön. Inkrementaalinen ajattelu ilmenee olemassa olevan kaupunkirakenteen hyödyntämisessä tilapäisen käytön suunnittelun pohjana. Taktisessa urbanismissa iteraatioiden käytöllä mahdollistetaan muutosten teko suunnitelmaan ennen seuraavaa tilapäisen käytön kokeilukierrosta. Vaikka tutkielman tulosten mukaan ketteriä ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmiä ei ole hyödynnetty suoraan tilapäiseen käyttöön liittyvässä kaupunkisuunnittelussa, ketterille menetelmille ominaiset erityistekijät ovat olleet jo nyt läsnä tilapäiseen käyttöön liittyvässä kaupunkisuunnittelussa. Tämän vuoksi tutkielman johtopäätöksenä on se, että ketterän ohjelmistokehitysmenetelmän johdonmukainen hyödyntäminen voisi olla mahdollista myös tilapäiseen liittyvän kaupunkisuunnittelun yhteydessä.

Researching the development of transport networks and regional impacts of transport networks have a strong tradition in geography research tradition. Research into conflicts in land use is also an important part of geographical research. Conflicts often occur in designing of large infrastructure projects, especially if projects are planned for urban areas and the built environment. Successful handling and resolution of planning conflicts are often essential factors not only from the point of view of the implementation of projects, but also from the point of view of their perceived legitimacy. Planning conflicts may not be clear and predictable, but also complex and multilateral, and those involved in the conflict may not necessarily play only one role during the conflict. This master's thesis examined the conflicts in planning of a large infrastructure project in Vantaa – the Ring Rail Line. The structure of the study is a case study because it examines one specific phenomenon and the factors associated with this phenomenon. In particular, the aim was to examine how the conflicts originated, what they were like in nature and in their involvement, and how they were resolved. The research perspective was the view of the planners who worked for the City of Vantaa and thus became involved in conflicts that occurred in the design of the Ring Rail Line. The view of the Vantaa-based planners was chosen as a research perspective because they supposedly had the most extensive experience of conflicts in the planning process of the Ring Rail Line at different stages of the project, at local, regional and national level. Simultaneously, the research perspective became a Vantaa-based one. The research material consisted primarily of project planning documents, news and other media material related to the project, and interview material produced by semi-structured thematic interviews targeted at selected planners. The theoretical framework for research consisted in particular of conflict theories related to land use planning and general planning theories. Written research material was processed and analyzed by theoretically controlled content analysis, mirroring the research data into a theoretical framework. The interview material was categorized and analyzed accordingly. This allowed conclusions to be drawn from the material on the basis of a theoretical framework and to form an understanding of the conflicts at different stages of the project and the nature and those involved in the conflicts. The research data was categorized using John Agnew's place theory. The material was categorized according to the perceptions of those involved in the conflicts in relation to the target area, significance and potential of the Ring Rail Line. The categorization was substantially complemented by interview material and direct quotes from interviewees. Through the interview material, the viewpoint of the planners was strongly expressed in accordance with the chosen research perspective. Based on categorization and theory-controlled content analysis, it was found that there were four main or most important conflicts in the planning process of the Ring Rail Line. These were the conflict between the cities of Helsinki and Vantaa over the urban structure, the conflict between the City of Vantaa and other municipalities over the growth machine, the conflict between the City of Vantaa, the Finnish state and Finavia over power and interests, and the conflict between the City of Vantaa and the residents over commitment to a place. The four conflicts were not isolated of each other, but all had some similar characteristics and those involved were also partly the same. The analysis of the data also showed that the parties involved in the conflicts also formed a loose strategic alliance with each other, whose members were in turn cooperating and alternately in conflict with each other. A common feature of the consortium was to get the Ring Rail Line implemented, even though there were occasional disagreements about the objectives and significance of the project.

Motoring is the most popular way of travelling among Finns, but the manner of it needs to be transformed into a more efficient and sustainable model: cars in urban areas are stationary about 90 percent of the time and in city areas were population is constantly growing there is pressure on organizing motoring and parking. Traditional parking lots are no longer sustainable due to lack of space; hence parking is directed to underground car parks or parking houses, whose building costs increase housing prices. There is already a noticeable change in the trend of car usage both in Finland and globally: explanatory factor is thought to be the different lifestyle of millennials through transition to sharing economy and changed mobility needs. Carsharing is thought to be a possible solution to meet the problems of urbanization, to achieve sustainable ways of transportation and to fulfill the changing needs of mobility. Compared to traditional motoring, benefits of carsharing are seen in reduced emissions and required parking space. The practice of carsharing has already been brought to zoning plans to reach these goals. However, simply changing the physical environment by reducing the number of parking spaces is not enough: the change in car use is done by the end-users, the motorists, themselves. This Master's thesis focuses on examining the potential of end-users for using shared vehicles to reduce parking space and car ownership in urban areas. The research has been carried out in cooperation with Kojamo Group which offers carsharing as a supplementary housing service to some of their residents. The empirical part of the study was carried out by sending an electronic survey to all households who are offered shared cars in their immediate vicinity. The survey sought to find out daily travel behavior, experiences of car sharing and car ownership. 48 replies were received of which 60 per cent were from Helsinki Metropolitan Area. The rest of the replies represented the cities of Jyväskylä, Tampere, Lahti and Oulu, out of which 80 per cent of respondents were living in urban areas. Carsharing did not prove to be an important part of the respondents' travel behavior: 21 per cent of the respondents reported to have used, or to be using, a shared car, but the average usage activity was only once per month. A majority of people who use shared cars represent car-free households. Half of respondents who have not used shared cars are considering using them in the future and more than half of respondents who own cars are considering abandoning them and switching to shared cars, if the service is always available when needed. Based on the results, the greatest potential for using shared cars is found among car owning households where the car is not in daily use due to comprehensive public transport. The total amount of cars or car usage has not decreased in any of the surveyed households by the effect of carsharing. In the already car-free households, the shared cars naturally increase the total car usage, but the mileage driven is however very low on a monthly level. As a summary of the results of the theoretical and empirical part of this study, it can be stated that station-based carsharing can be seen as a potential way of reducing the need for parking space in urban areas, as long as the service is reliable, and it serves different needs of transportation.

Kulttuuriekosysteemipalvelut kaupunkiympäristössä ovat merkittävä tekijä viihtyvyyden, hyvinvoinnin ja hyvän asuinalueen rakentumisen kannalta. Aluesuunnittelussa ekosysteemipalvelukäsitteen käyttö on vielä osin uutta, eikä kulttuurisia ekosysteemipalveluita välttämättä huomioida aluesuunnittelussa. Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena on selvittää millaisia kulttuurisia ekosysteemipalveluita Keravalla ja tarkemmin Savion kaupungiosassa esiintyy sekä millaisia ekosysteemipalveluita alueella arvostetaan ja hyödynnetään. Tutkimuksella selvitetään myös vastaako suunnittelun näkemykset asukkaiden tarpeisiin kulttuuristen ekosysteemipalveluiden osalta ja tarjoaako suunnittelu riittävän potentiaalin ekosysteemipalveluiden ilmentymiselle. Tutkimuksessa arvioidaan myös mahdollisuutta laajentaa saatuja tuloksia koskemaan laajempaa otantaa. Tutkimus tehtiin arvioimalla kaupungin suunnittelulinjoja sekä analysoimalla kaksi spatiaalista paikkatietokyselyä. Kaupungin suunnitelmat, aluekehityssuunnitelma sekä aluebrändäys analytoitiin diskurssimenetelmällä. Ekosysteemipalveluiden analysoinnissa käytettiin tarjoumateoria-ajatusta perustana. Ekosysteemipalvelut nähdään tarjoumina, joiden potentiaalisesta ilmenemisestä alueen asukkaat ja käyttäjät hyötyvät tiedostamattaan tai tiedostaen. Tutkimuksen tärkeimpänä tuloksena voidaan pitää luontokohteiden kiistatonta merkitystä alueen asukkaiden viihtymiselle. Ekosysteemipalveluiden tarjoamat hyvinvointiin vaikuttavat potentiaalit ovat alueen asukkaille tärkeitä. Kulttuuristen ekosysteemipalveluiden säilymisen osalta ensiarvoisen tärkeää olisi tunnistaa pienten luontokohteiden arvo ja suojelun tarve ja huomioida nämä kohteet aluesuunnittelussa.

Tourism in the 21st century has become versatile and spending time in just one destination area is not the dominant idea anymore. Environmental issues and concerns about Co2 and other greenhouse gas emissions have reached the global consciousness within tourism industry, and alternative forms of travel for mass tourism have been created. One alternative conceptualised among tourism studies has been slow travel, in which choosing low-carbon transport and spending long time away from home are the core ideas. This thesis examines a long distance bicycle trip as a form of slow travel. The aim is to consider characteristics of a long distance bicycle trip, factors that make it possible, motives that lead to accomplish it and finally consider the significance politics of such a trip. Therefore a long distance bicycle trip has been divided to four dimensions and around for each one there is theory combined. For the characteristics the key theory is the theory of slow travel. Sufficient leisure time and finance for the bicycle trip are the key factors when examining the factors that make travelling possible. Considering travel motivation there are various theories from different fields of studies – in the thesis theories from tourism geography, sociology and psychology are combined. The significance politics of a long distance bicycle trip are examined by the means of uniting identity factors and lifestyle political choices of bicycle travellers. Data used in the thesis is divided in three different types. Firstly, theme interviews have been conducted with eight people who have made a long distance bicycle trip. Secondly, an examination have been made for narrations written about the bicycle trips. Thirdly, electronic data – narrations in blogs and audio-visual material in the form of documentaries have been considered. Content analysis has been elaborated in the thesis – first the answers of the interviewees and data have been thematised, then data has been coded and last the data has been interpreted. Results of the research reveal that travelling slow with a bicycle is a most important determinant characteristic of a long distance bicycle trip. Travel routes are in the significant role in a long distance bicycle trip – they become the destination of the trip intrinsically. Nature and culture experiences in the peripheral areas are essential. Bicycle trip is an independent form of travel In which spontaneous choices and flexibility are constantly present. Enough leisure time is essential to elaborate a long distance bicycle trip. One can accomplish a trip without spending a significant amount of money each day, but if the trip is extended for a long period of time, sufficient finance is still needed. Physiological motives include strengthening physical condition, but on the other hand, relaxation is a goal also. Some bicycle travellers considered binding new social relationships as an important aspiration. Among bicycle travellers challenging him or herself as a mean of achieving a feeling of winning him or herself is a significant motivation factor. By doing so, one acquire a sensation of developing him or herself. One goal has also been an inspiration for others. Feeling of freedom is a prominent aspiration. Collective identity among bicycle travellers is related with feeling of not being in a hurry, feelings of being independent, experiences in the periphery and a long time spent away from the conventional environment. Bicycle travellers construct their significance politics of their bicycle trip around these collective identity ideas. Further research could be conducted related to the compound of the freedom feeling experienced while long distance bicycle trip. Also it would be interesting to examine relations between a long distance bicycle trip and pilgrimage or a lifestyle of modern nomadism.

Community-led local development is constantly strengthening and partly a new dimension in regional development. It has been seen as a bottom-up parallel regional development activity, where local actors such as area businesses, residents and organisations are closely involved. Community-led local development can be carried out using different methods, and it has been found to be effective and important in the development activities of municipalities and neighborhoods. Community-led local development has received attention at the international and national arenas. It has come up especially in the debate of the future of the European Union cohesion policy, and the Commission has brought it one of the most important questions in the future program period. At the national level, the importance of community-led local development has been seen to rise, especially when the municipalities are merged into larger units. In Finland, large part of the regional planning is in the responsibility of municipalities, and they are seen to be the key actors in community-led local development. This study examines the views of municipalities in community-led local development - at their own points of view. The purpose is to find out what kind of activities the municipalities will see as community-led local development, what kind of impacts community-led local development has had to the municipalities, and how the community-led local development has worked in municipalities. In addition, the aim is to find out what kind of role the municipalities see themselves in community-led local development, and how important they see community-led local development in securing their own vitality. Research data of this study consists of the electronic questionnaire and the interviews focused to the persons responsible of development issues of the municipalities. Research data shows that the Finnish municipalities see community-led local development working well, and that it is very important to the development of the municipality. Community-led local development was generally seen as an action, which aims to improve the municipality and it's surrounding region's vitality, competitiveness, and business operating conditions. Municipalities saw the community-led local development very important and significant in securing their vitality, and it's importance was seen to remain in the future. In smaller municipalities, it's importance was even seen to grow in the future, in the municipal reform, when municipalities are merged to larger units. Municipalities saw the community-led local development for the most part the same way all over the Finland, despite of their size. Finnish municipalities don't see community-led local development only as a bottom-up parallel regional development activity, where local actors such as areas businesses, residents and organizations are closely involved. It was seen more as a physical development of the area in which the participation of local actors and partnerships were as a complement. Among Finnish municipalities can be identified two different dimensions of community-led local development: an actor-oriented dimension, as well as a specific regions development -oriented dimension.

Saudi Arabia has been an important ‘silent’ actor in the Middle East for decades. Despite this, the kingdom is active in the background of politics in the Middle East where it has traditionally striven to influence indirectly. During the last couple of years, the role of Saudi Arabia has been brought up by the conflicts in Syria and Yemen. This relates to more direct action from the kingdom itself but also to the changes caused by the Arab spring and the succession of the new king. The geopolitical rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran has dominated the events of the Middle East in the 21st century, whereby the region is divided into camps managed by the two countries. The partial withdrawal of the United States and the strengthening of Iran's position have forced Saudi Arabia to switch from a background to a more active role in protecting its interests. In my master’s thesis I will do a literature review of Saudi Arabia’s view on the geopolitics of the Middle East and its role in the area’s conflicts after the Cold War. I will also analyse the country’s comprehension of the society of states in the Middle East. The theoretical framework consists of geopolitics and the English school which is also known as the theory of international society. The main conflicts to be investigated are the Gulf War, the Iraq War and the Syrian conflict. I will also include the Arab spring and the Yemeni civil war in my analysis since they have an important role in the geopolitics of Saudi Arabia. The geopolitics of Saudi Arabia has two important objectives: to ensure the survival of the Al Saud dynasty and to control the influence of Iran. Saudi Arabia strives for its goals by maintaining a prevailing order or at least curbing the effects of change. The role of Saudi Arabia in the conflicts in the Middle East has developed from a silent and cautious oil diplomacy to an active and militaristic foreign policy. Before the Arab Spring, the geopolitics of Saudi Arabia were strongly diplomatic, as the kingdom wanted to avoid the crises escalating into full-scale wars in the neighbouring countries. The actual direct military action has been less common although during the last years, the threshold for its use has decreased. However, Saudi Arabia favours proxies as the main promoters of its interests. Saudi Arabia has two significant ways to influence geopolitics in the Middle East: the economic capacity to support its proxies and allies, as well as the ideological influence through which it seeks to become a defender and leader of the Sunnah world. Sectarianism has been one of the most important pillars of Saudi Arabia's 21st century geopolitics, where it politicizes religious identities to promote its own interests. Many of the conflicts in the Middle East have become sectarianized, as a result of the actions of both Saudi Arabia and Iran. However, this policy has significant disadvantages as the sectarianisation of conflicts will lengthen their duration. At the regional level the success of the Saudi Arabian geopolitics has been somewhat ambiguous: for the moment it has ensured its regime’s survival indefinitely while on the other hand it has not been able to curb the growing Iranian influence in the Middle East. The actions of Saudi Arabia in the conflicts around the Middle East have varied as the backgrounds and causes of the conflicts differ. It is possible to recognize three simplified phases from its actions. The first phase is diplomacy and dialogue through which it is also possible to justify later harsher actions. The second phase is the use of proxies and/or military intervention. The third phase depends on whether or not the conflict is in favour of Saudi Arabia. The examined major conflicts have not been as beneficial to Saudi Arabia as they have been to its worst competitor, Iran. As a result to this, the third phase is the maintaining of the mayhem in the conflict area. However, there is no interest in maintaining the disorder if the conflict is resolved in the favour of Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia sees the Middle East as a pluralist state community where the dimension of realism is always present. According to this idea, states recognize each other as members of the community and obey the rules that are presumed by the current state of the international relations. However, violations of the sovereignty of other states pose a threat to the community. At present, solidarity emanating from Saudi Arabia remains impossible as the current geopolitics prevent the kingdom from leaving its strategic calculations. At the moment, there is nothing suggesting the fact that this situation would change in the near future.