scholarly journals Constructing the “New” Arctic: The Future of the Circumpolar North in a Changing Global Order

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 6-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. R. Young
Keyword(s):  
International Society ◽  
Peripheral Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
Socially Constructed ◽  
History Of ◽  
Circumpolar North ◽  
The Cold War

Like all spatially delimited regions in international society, the Arctic is socially constructed. Political and economic considerations play prominent roles as determinants of the region’s boundaries, the identity of those states regarded as Arctic states, and the nature of the interactions between the Arctic and the outside world. From this perspective the recent history of the Arctic divides into two distinct periods: the late 1980s through 2007 and 2007 to the present. As the cold war faded, the Arctic became a peripheral region of declining importance in global political calculations. No one challenged the dominance of the eight Arctic states in regional affairs, and the Arctic Council focused on regional concerns relating to environmental protection and sus tainable development. Today, by contrast, the ‘new’ Arctic is a focus of intense glo bal interest, largely because climate change is proceeding more rapidly in this region than anywhere else on Earth with global consequences and because the increasing accessibility of the Arctic’s natural resources has generated enhanced interest on the part of outside actors. As a result, Arctic issues have merged into global issues, making the region a prominent arena for the interplay of geopolitical forces. Cooperative arrangements established during the first period (e.g. the Arctic Council) may require adjustment to operate effectively in the ‘new’ Arctic. Treated as a case study, the Arctic story provides an illuminating lens through which to analyze the forces that shape thinking about the nature of regions in international society and the role of cooperative arrangements at the regional level.

scholarly journals Is It Time for a Reset in Arctic Governance?

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (16) ◽  
pp. 4497 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
The United States ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Peripheral Region ◽  
Great Power ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Ground Zero ◽  
Regime Complex

Conditions in the Arctic today differ from those prevailing during the 1990s in ways that have far-reaching implications for the architecture of Arctic governance. What was once a peripheral region regarded as a zone of peace has turned into ground zero for climate change on a global scale and a scene of geopolitical maneuvering in which Russia is flexing its muscles as a resurgent great power, China is launching economic initiatives, and the United States is reacting defensively as an embattled but still potent hegemon. This article explores the consequences of these developments for Arctic governance and specifically for the role of the Arctic Council. The article canvasses options for adjusting the council’s membership and its substantive remit. It pays particular attention to opportunities for the council to play a role in managing the increasingly complex Arctic regime complex.

Can the Arctic Council and the Northern Forum find common ground?

Polar Record ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 38 (207) ◽  
pp. 289-296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oran R. Young
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Peoples ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Bureaucratic Politics ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Cold War ◽  
The Voice ◽  
Two Bodies

AbstractThe Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy (the forerunner of the Arctic Council) and the Northern Forum are both products of the sea change in Arctic politics occurring in the wake of the end of the Cold War. Both are soft law arrangements and both are lightly institutionalized. Yet these similarities have not provided a basis for collaboration between the Arctic Council (AC) and the Northern Forum (NF). For the most part, the two bodies have behaved like ships passing in the night. This article seeks to explain this lack of collaboration and to evaluate future prospects in this realm. The lack of collaboration is attributable in part to a number of sources of tension or fault lines, including issues relating to core-periphery relations, the concerns of indigenous peoples, divergent constituencies, the Russian connection, and bureaucratic politics and the complexities of political leadership. In part, it stems from ambiguities about the status of the AC and the NF combined with restrictions on the roles these bodies can play. There is little prospect of combining the two bodies into a more comprehensive Arctic regime. But there are opportunities to devise a realistic division of labor and to develop useful coordination mechanisms. The AC, for example, is the appropriate vehicle for efforts to strengthen the voice of the Arctic regarding global issues; the NF is well-suited to dealing with matters of community viability. Ultimately, the two bodies might consider creating a joint working group on sustainable development or organizing occasional joint meetings of the AC's Senior Arctic Officials and the NF's Executive Committee.

scholarly journals The role of global NGOs advocating for human rights in world politics (on the example of the organization “Human Rights Watch”)

2021 ◽  
pp. 47-59
Author(s):  
Alexander Naumov
Keyword(s):  
Human Rights ◽  
World Politics ◽  
Double Standards ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Human Rights Protection ◽  
Global Issues ◽  
History Of ◽  
The One ◽  
The Cold War

The object of this research is an international organization “Human Rights Watch” that conducts and advocacy on human rights. The subject of this research is the activity of this international non-governmental organization since its establishment until 2020. The author examines such aspects of the topic as the history of creation of “Human Rights Watch”, the nature of its activity during the Cold War, the evolution of approaches towards the core issues in the area of human rights protection during the post-bipolar period; as well as analyzes the current campaigns of this international NGO. The methodological framework is comprised of the systemic, structural-functional, comparative-political approaches, methods of historicism, analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, and observation. For the first time in Russian historiography, leaning on the primary sources and relevant scientific literature, the role of international non-governmental organization advocating for human rights “Human Rights Watch” is analyzes within the system of global governance since its foundation until the present. In conclusion, the author indicates a sizable contribution of the organization “Human Rights Watch” alongside other NGOs advocating for human rights in solution of global issues; however notes that these actors of world politics as not utterly unbiased and neutral organizations. On the one hand, namely due to the activity of such organizations, the problem of the supremacy of law,  universal human rights and freedoms became one of the key concepts of international relations at the turn of centuries; but on the other hand, they are rightly criticized for prejudice, political bias, and double standards.

scholarly journals On the History of International Socio-Economic Relations of the Arctic Regions and Thirty-Year Anniversary of the «Northern Forum»

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-28
Author(s):  
Boris Krasnopolski
Keyword(s):  
International Cooperation ◽  
Arctic Region ◽  
Active Role ◽  
Political Organization ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
History Of ◽  
The Creation

The research is a journey into a history of relatively recent establishment and development of international relations and cooperation of the Arctic regions of our country and the world. Thaw in relations between the Soviet Union taken place in the 80s of the last century and other countries affected the development of the territories of the states members of the well-known international Arctic Council, as well as a number of other countries with political and economic interests in the Arctic. This thaw created the basis for the creation of the Northern Forum in 1991, an international non-political organization of regional governors, which expressed the ambitions of the countries of the North and Arctic regions to develop international cooperation. In 2021, this organization will celebrate its 30th anniversary. Its creation is directly related to an active role of Walter J. Hickel (Wally J. Hickel), who in those years was the governor of Alaska (USA). He got elected twice to the office of governor and put enormous business and personal efforts into the creation of the Northern Forum. Unfortunately, in recent years the ability of the Forum to support and strengthen international sustainable socio-economic development in the Arctic region has substantially decreased. Despite the great efforts of the Forum secretariat, which is now located in Yakutsk, its role is declining, which is apparently caused by the growth of political and economic confrontations between the leading Arctic countries. The author puts forward his perspectives on the increasing role of the Northern Forum in the international cooperation of the Arctic countries in the light of new initiatives.

The Role of the Arctic Council from an International Law Perspective: Past, Present and Future

2014 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 349-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoshinobu Takei
Keyword(s):  
International Law ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Treaty Negotiations ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Law Making

Established in 1996, the Arctic Council has played an essential role in promoting pan- Arctic cooperation on various issues concerning the Arctic. Increasingly, its activities have contributed to the development of international law relating to the Arctic in terms of law-making and implementation. Recent developments make it pertinent to investigate the possibilities and challenges faced by the Arctic Council in developing legally binding instruments and otherwise contributing to the development of international law relating to the Arctic. How has the Council been engaged in activities that contribute to the development of international law? What factors have affected these activities? This article describes the structure of the Arctic Council and its status under international law; analyzes important developments relating to this issue in the period before the 2009 Ministerial Meeting held in Tromsø, Norway; examines the processes in which two legally binding instruments were negotiated and eventually adopted as well as elements common to these agreements; and discusses Arctic Council processes relevant to the development of international law other than treaty negotiations under its auspices.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE RUSSIAN SEGMENT OF THE ARCTIC ZONE AS A REGIONAL MEASUREMENT OF WORLD GEOPOLITICS

2020 ◽  
pp. 73-77
Author(s):  
T.S. Sukhodaeva ◽  
Keyword(s):  
World Economy ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Russian Arctic ◽  
Competitive Advantages ◽  
Arctic Zone ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
The World ◽  
Arctic Policy

The article discusses the features of the Arctic zone, its place in the world economy and international relations. The reasons for the intersection of the geopolitical interests of the leading states of the world in this region are revealed. The main directions of scientific and technical cooperation in the development of the Arctic are identified. The role of the Arctic Council in solving the problem of coordinating the interests of various actors in the region is shown. The strategic necessity of the development of the Arctic as a region free of conflicts and rivalry is substantiated. The analysis of the Russian Arctic policy and mechanisms for its implementation. The author substantiates the conclusion that the development of the Russian Arctic zone can become a driving force for the qualitative growth of the national economy, the formation of the country's competitive advantages in the long term, as well as maintaining the global ecological balance and stability.

Another ‘double movement’: the great transformation after the Cold War?

2001 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 237-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Clark
Keyword(s):  
Cold War ◽  
International Society ◽  
International System ◽  
System Transformation ◽  
Double Movement ◽  
Great Transformation ◽  
Litmus Test ◽  
The Cold War

This collection of essays grapples, historically, with the complex issues involved in understanding system transformation. Often these transformations have taken the form of a shift along the spectrum of independence-centralization, and it is within the framework of such declining or emerging imperial systems that the degree of change has tended to be measured. The task of this contribution is to locate the specific case of the end of the Cold War within the broader reflections on these themes. It will respond to this challenge by applying a different litmus test for change from that already found in the existing literature about the significance of the end of the Cold War. Instead, it will broach the topic by an examination of prevailing concepts of legitimacy within international society. In short, it argues that a study of the role of legitimacy might be a useful way of documenting and measuring the kinds of changes taking place within an international system. Moreover, while the end of the Cold War might be thought to have nothing to say about the issue of empire as such (beyond recording the expiry of the Soviet version), it will additionally be suggested that the resultant extension of shared concepts of international legitimacy can be understood as a defining attribute of the contemporary imperial project.

The Arctic Economic Council – the Origins

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 225-248
Author(s):  
Natalia Loukacheva
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Business Community ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Economic Council ◽  
History Of ◽  
New Vision

On 2 September 2014, in the Canadian town of Iqaluit – the territorial capital of Nunavut – the founding meeting of the Arctic Economic Council took place. By relying on founding documents, interviews with stakeholders who were engaged in the development of the concept of the Council, and by following the process of its establishment, the author examines why the Arctic Council established this new independent body. The article looks back at the history of the Arctic Council’s relationships with business and examines what the objectives of the new Arctic Economic Council are. It also explores how the new council will do business and concludes by posing questions about how the Council might facilitate economic development, entrepreneurship, a new vision and dialogue, and generally how it can best serve the circumpolar business community, Northern and Indigenous stakeholders.

Debates over the Role of the Arctic Council

2012 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 146-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Torbjørn Pedersen
Keyword(s):  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council

scholarly journals Revisiting Russian Presidency in the Arctic Council

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 62-68
Author(s):  
Valery Zhuravel ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Arctic Region ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Arctic Council ◽  
Shift Method ◽  
The Sustainable Development ◽  
Arctic Regions ◽  
Difficult Time ◽  
Environmental Requirements ◽  
And Control

The article notes that in the period of preparation for the chairmanship of the Arctic Council (2021–2023), in order to further develop the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, new strategic documents, a package of benefits and preferences for business development were prepared and approved, measures were taken for the sustainable development of indigenous peoples, and to increase the role of science in Arctic research. The author draws attention to some unsolved problems of socio-economic development of the Arctic region (outflow of the population, especially young people; shortcomings of the organization of the shift method of work and centralized coordination and control of state orders and supplies to the population of hard-to-reach Arctic regions; violation of environmental requirements). It is emphasized that Russia assumes the post of chairman of the Arctic Council at a difficult time: the coronavirus pandemic, political tensions in relations with the West, including on issues of management and security of the Arctic, economic sanctions from the Arctic states, which creates certain difficulties in the activities in the Arctic direction. The author concludes that the developed program, the plan of main events, the activity of ministries and departments in the next 2 years will allow us to successfully cope with the chairmanship, show our foreign colleagues all the best that is available in the Russian Far North, and contribute to the strengthening of the Arctic Council.

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