Alexander Osipov, Dr., has higher education in ethnology, law and history. He is Board Member of the International Centre for Ethnic and Linguistic Diversity Studies (Prague) and has worked in various parts of Europe. His publications in English and Russian often deal with issues of ethnic relations, diversity, minorities and various forms of autonomy. He contributes regularly to the E-Course on Territorial Autonomy initiated by the Åland Islands Peace Institute in cooperation with the Open University on Åland.