Maija Halonen

Maija Halonen is a Lecturer at the Department of Geographical and Historical Studies, Faculty of Social Sciences and Business Studies, University of Eastern Finland. Holding a PhD in human geography, she specializes in sustainability transitions, forest bioeconomy, and regional development in resource peripheries.

• Research Focus: Regional development, forest-based bioeconomy, socioeconomic justice, shrinking regions, and policy implementation in rural contexts.
• Projects: Currently leads initiatives like CYPER (2020-2025) and The Bog 2.0 (2024-2026), aiming to enhance sustainability in peripheral regions through comprehensive strategies.

Her 15 most recent articles (2015-2024) examine tensions in sustainability transitions, emphasizing power relations, policy misalignments, and the role of local knowledge. Key themes include forest bioeconomy, shrinkage in Northern Finland, and equity in healthcare reforms. While her work often intersects with political economy and spatial governance, she critiques generalized sustainability patterns that overlook regional specificities.

Halonen collaborates extensively with institutions like the Karelian Institute and contributes to policy reports for entities such as Pohjois-Karjalan historiallisen yhdistyksen. Her methodological approach combines critical discourse analysis and embedded triangulation, reflecting institutional and local dynamics in sustainability governance.