Forecasting of Food Security and Sustainable Development of Rural Territories in Russia's North

National security is always directed at ensuring the country's sovereignty, protection of national interests, as well as the provision of sustainable economic development. Food security is a specific dimension of national security. The development of the circumpolar territories in the northern areas of the Asian part of Russia shifts the emphasis of food supply and gives new impetus to the development of agricultural production. In this chapter, the authors argue that the self-sufficiency of northern territories in the Asian part of Russia may be achieved by 2030 by means of development of vegetable production.

Sustainable Development of Oil Production in the Arctic Shelf and Evolution of Fish Stock

Arctic region is an important resource for hydrocarbons (oil and gas). Their exploitation is not immediate but will develop fast as soon as oil prices approach $100 per barrel again. In the Arctic, fish stock is an important renewable resource. Contrary to hydrocarbons, it is already overexploited. Future simultaneous exploitation of both resources poses several problems, including externalities and common pool. The academic community still has some time for theoretical investigation of those future problems and working out the corresponding policy measures that are consistent with sustainable development of the region. The Barents Sea is especially important because it has a common pool both in hydrocarbons and fish.

Sustainable Development of the Arctic

Circumpolar territories and the regions related to the Arctic are those rich with natural resources. They have a high potential for the development of mining and extractive industries. The abundance with resources makes the North increasingly attractive for investments. However, circumpolar territories are characterized by peculiar socio-economic, natural, and climatic conditions which taken together frequently pose a negative impact on people and hinder the exploration opportunities of the Arctic resources. In global, regional, and sub-regional levels, the development of the Arctic is heavily regulated by multilateral international treaties. However, the issues of monitoring and assessment of the sustainable development of the Arctic remain open, which stems from the absence of agreed criteria and indicators for assessing sustainability in the context of national, regional, and scientific approaches. It necessitates the development of a specific methodological approach to the establishment of a system to monitor and assess the sustainable development of the Arctic.

Regional Aspects of the Arctic Ice Silk Road

A recently released white paper on the Arctic policy emphasized the principal lines of China's activities in the Arctic, particularly development of resources, fishing and tourism, Arctic shipping routes, infrastructure, navigation security, scientific research, and environmental protection. Such priorities are in the best interest of China's strategy of the unified regional development and new architectonics of the extensive exploration of the potential of China's Northern provinces. Being the northernmost region of the country, Heilongjiang province has an opportunity to become China's outpost for the implementation of the national Arctic policy. This chapter assesses the challenges and perspectives of turning Heilongjiang province into a transport and logistics hub between Northeast Asia, Europe, and North America by China's participation in the development of the Arctic Blue Economic Corridor. The author elaborates an idea of the establishment of the Arctic Research and Industrial Cluster based on the scientific, technological, and industrial facilities of Heilongjiang province.

Conventional and Deep-Water Shipping Passages Along the Northern Sea Route

The chapter presents a description of conventional and deep-water shipping routes within the water areas of the Northern Sea Route (NSR). There are provided the evaluation of the hydrographical survey of the Arctic Ocean seabed with respect to navigational safety along with the summary of the principal factors affecting the efficiency and safety of shipping in the polar water. The chapter discusses the current situation and major development tendencies of the NSR, in particular the forecasted growth of navigation intensity, increase of the shares of high ice-strengthened heavy-tonnage vessels and hazardous cargoes in transportation, and spread of the year-round navigation zone to the East. Some of the research findings obtained during the previous decade at the Arctic Faculty of Admiral Makarov State University of Maritime and Inland Shipping are provided. The assessment of the effects of shallows and ice on the working capacity of the NSR for deep-draft vessels is provided.

Images of Norway as a Tourist Destination From Russian Travel Bloggers' Perspective

Tourism is increasingly becoming an important sector to be considered when it comes to discussing the sustainable development of the Arctic. This chapter presents a research into the image of Norway—one of the Arctic nations—as a tourist destination. The image is traced through a qualitative study of Russian travel blog sites. Results from the study widen the understanding of Russian tourists' interests in Norway. The findings also highlight the process of image formation of Norway as an Arctic destination by the Russian travel bloggers.

Russia-China Collaboration in the Arctic

In recent years, the international expert community has demonstrated a growing interest in China's Arctic policy. To a great extent, such an interest has been triggered by recent gaining an observer status in the Arctic Council by China, as well as by China's efforts to actively participate in elaborating the rules of global governance. China has a range of interests in the Arctic, including climate change problems, opportunities for energy diversification, and development of the Northern Sea Route. Among Russian experts, the discussion on the desirability of cooperation with China has lately shifted towards the acknowledging the need to strengthen Russia-China strategic partnership in the Arctic, particularly in the context of worsening relations between Russia and Western countries. The chapter addresses recent trends in Russia's and China's attitudes to bilateral cooperation in the Arctic and analyzes experts' approaches to the settlement of disputes, including such issues as the legal regime of the Arctic and the development of navigation along the Northern Sea Route.

Collaboration Between Russia and the Countries of Northeast Asia in the Arctic

In the 21st century, the Arctic region has become an object of high attention and extensive studies from the side of the international community. The countries of Northeast Asia, particularly China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea, demonstrate their interest in the Arctic issue. Among the opportunities to get involved in the development of the Arctic is the collaboration with Russia. The countries have common interests in the region and complementary opportunities. Moreover, Russia and the countries of Northeast Asia do not have critical disagreements between themselves. The authors argue that the collaboration between Russia and the countries of Northeast Asia can potentially establish a new economic paradigm in the High North. One of the key elements of such collaboration is the Russian region of the Far East, a territory that Russia attempts to develop and integrate into the economy of Northeast Asia. Among other issues, this chapter discusses the capacity of the Far East as a gate through which the countries of Northeast Asia may approach the Arctic.

Arctic Europe Between National Interests and Arctic Governance

From an economic point of view, melting ice is making the Arctic ocean increasingly important for a number of countries – Arctic states as well as non-Arctic states. Also, the EU has clear interests in the area. This chapter provides a brief description of those interests and its implications on the EU's relationship with the Arctic partners. This note takes seven aspects of the EU-relations with the Arctic states into consideration (i.e., the institutional framework, the EU Arctic interests and policies, shipping, fishing, marine mammals, offshore oil and gas operations, and the EU's Arctic partners).

Trans-Arctic Interactions and Cross-Country Collaboration

The Arctic gains an increasing geopolitical importance in the globalized world. The region provides a lot of opportunities especially due to the global warming and intensive development of digital technology but at the same time, it poses extreme challenges. The chapter starts with a literature review on interactions, relationships, networks and their implications on trans-Arctic collaborations. The first section begins by exploring how each Arctic state deals with the opportunities and challenges of the region. The second section describes the evolution of trans-Arctic relations. In the third section, market connections between the Arctic states, the importance of establishing a predictable regulatory framework, knowledge and data exchange, broadband penetration, and use of traditional indigenous knowledge to stimulate sustainable long-term trans-Arctic interactions are analyzed. The chapter ends with conclusions and recommendations aimed at the future development of trans-Arctic interactions with a focus on global intervention policies and strategies in the region.