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Arctic Region in the Climate Change Era: Zone of Conflict or Zone of Cooperation?

Arctic Politics and Cooperation

by Emirhan Altunkaya (Author)
Thesis 290 Pages

Summary

It is now beyond question that Arctic Region is experiencing an unprecedented and
radical transformation. Due to the impacts of global warming, physical, climatic,
and environmental conditions of the Arctic Region are rapidly changing. This rapid
transformation of the icy conditions within the Arctic has increased the economic,
environmental, social and political significance of the region within the last decades.
Accordingly, once a peripheral and untended region for the global politics, today is
becoming an inseparable part of the international political agenda. This book aims to
provide a comprehensive analysis of evolution of Arctic Politics since 1980s; focusing
on international cooperation, competition and conflict dynamics. It examines
the emergence and development of international cooperation in the Arctic Region
throughout the last three decades and interrogates challenges of this cooperation
since mid-2010s and into more-troubled 2020s.

Table Of Contents

  • Cover
  • Title
  • Copyright
  • About the author
  • About the book
  • This eBook can be cited
  • Table of Contents
  • List of Abbreviations
  • Chapter 1: Introduction
  • 1.1. Literature Review
  • 1.2. Research Question(s) and Objectives
  • 1.3. Theoretical and Conceptual Framework
  • 1.3.1. Study of International Regimes
  • 1.3.2. Schools of Thought in the Study of International Regimes
  • 1.3.3. Theoretical Approach of the Research
  • 1.4. Main Arguments of the Research
  • 1.5. Methodological Framework
  • 1.6. Contribution to the Literature and Significance
  • 1.7. Structure of the Research
  • Chapter 2: Emergence of the Arctic Regime Complex
  • 2.1. General Outlook of the Arctic Region
  • 2.2. Historical Background of Arctic Politics
  • 2.3. Arctic Region during the Cold War
  • 2.3.1. Military and Security Related Concerns
  • 2.3.2. Economic Opportunities and Environmental Awareness
  • 2.3.3. Murmansk Moment in Arctic Politics
  • 2.3.4. Context of Interaction during the Cold War
  • 2.4. Formation of the Arctic Regime Complex
  • 2.4.1. Proliferation of Arctic Cooperative Ventures
  • 2.4.2. Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy
  • 2.4.3. Evolvement of AEPS Process towards Arctic Council
  • 2.4.4. Negotiation Process towards the Arctic Council
  • 2.4.5. Arctic Council: A New Forum for Arctic Cooperation
  • 2.4.6. Initial Years of the Arctic Council: Transition Period
  • 2.5. Arctic Cooperation and International Legal Insturments
  • 2.6. Significance of the UNCLOS for the Arctic Ocean
  • 2.7. Assessment of the Formation Period for Arctic Regime Complex
  • Chapter 3: Expansion of the Arctic Regime Complex
  • 3.1. Extended Knowledge Related to Arctic Region
  • 3.1.1. Impact of Global Warming on Arctic Region
  • 3.1.2. Potential of Oil and Gas Reserves in the Arctic Region
  • 3.1.3. Promise of Shipping Routes of the Arctic Ocean
  • 3.1.4. Living Resources, Forestry, Agriculture and Tourism
  • 3.1.5. Biodiversity Concerns in the Arctic Region
  • 3.2. Drawbacks and Evolution of Arctic Politics
  • 3.2.1. Russian Flag Plantation Incident
  • 3.2.2. Revival of Military Activities in the Arctic Region
  • 3.2.3. Law of the Sea Issues in the Arctic Ocean
  • 3.2.4. Arctic Ocean Conference and Ilulissat Declaration
  • 3.2.5. Barents Sea Treaty
  • 3.3. Repercussions over the Arctic Regime Complex
  • 3.3.1. Reflections of Ilulissat Declaration over the AC
  • 3.3.2. Debates around a New Comprehensive Arctic Treaty
  • 3.4. Expansion and Strengthening of the AC
  • 3.4.1. Task Forces and Operationalization of AC Activities
  • 3.4.2. Arctic Council Secretariat as a Permanent Body
  • 3.4.3. Admission of New Observers into the AC
  • 3.4.4. International Agreements under the AC Auspices
  • 3.4.5. New Cooperative Ventures and Initiatives
  • 3.4.6. Cooperation Concerning IMO’s Polar Code
  • 3.5. Assessment of the Expansion Period for Arctic Regime Complex
  • Chapter 4: Current Challenges and Opportunities of the Arctic Regime Complex
  • 4.1. Arctic Region and Economic Potential during the 2010s
  • 4.2. Spill-Over Effects of Crimea Annexation to Arctic Cooperation
  • 4.3. Ongoing Efforts for Extending Arctic Cooperation
  • 4.3.1. Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement
  • 4.3.2. Ministerial Meetings and New Initiatives of the AC
  • 4.3.3. Strategic Plan of the AC for 2030
  • 4.4. Intensifying Great Power Politics in the Arctic Region
  • 4.4.1. Russian Position in the Arctic Region
  • 4.4.2. Chinese Involvement into the Arctic Affairs
  • 4.4.3. United States Changing Approach to Arctic Affairs
  • 4.4.4. Heightened Re-Militarization of the Arctic Region
  • 4.4.5. Implications of Great Power Politics Concerns
  • 4.5. Ukraine War and Its Impacts on Arctic Regime Complex
  • 4.5.1. Impacts on Arctic Regime Components
  • 4.5.2. Repercussions on Arctic Security Constellation
  • 4.5.3. Reflections on the Arctic Economic Cooperation
  • 4.6. Assessment of the Current Situation for Arctic Regime Complex
  • Chapter 5: Conclusion
  • References
  • Academic Works
  • Official Documents & Reports
  • Treaties & Conventions & Agreements
  • Index

List of Abbreviations

AAC

Arctic Athabaskan Council

ABA

Arctic Biodiversity Assessment

ABT

Arctic Biodiversity Trends

AC

Arctic Council

ACAP

Arctic Contaminants Action Program

ACS

Arctic Council Secretariat

ACIA

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment

ACGF

Arctic Coast Guard Forum

ACSP

Arctic Council Strategic Plan

ACWG

Arctic Council Working Group

AEC

Arctic Economic Council

AEPS

Arctic Environmental Protection Strategy

AIA

Aleut International Association

AMAP

Arctic Monitoring and Assessment Program

AMSA

Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment

AMSP

Arctic Marine Strategic Plan

ASFR

Arctic Security Forces Roundtable

A5

Arctic Five (Arctic Coastal States)

A8

Arctic Eight (Arctic States)

BBNJ

Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction

BEAC

Barents-Euro Arctic Council

BRI

Belt and Road Initiative

CAFF

Conservation of Arctic Fauna and Flora

CAO

Central Arctic Ocean

CAOFA

Central Arctic Ocean Fisheries Agreement

CHOD

Arctic Chief of Defense Staff Conference

CLCS

Commission on the Limits of Continental Shelf

CLRTAP

Convention on Long Range Transboundary Air Pollution

CPAR

Conference of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region

CW

Cold War

DOALOS

Division of Ocean Affairs and Law of the Sea

EBM

Ecosystem Based Management

EEZ

Exclusive Economic Zone

EU

European Union

EPRR

Emergency Prevention, Preparedness and Response

EGBCM

Expert Group on Black Carbon and Methane

GCI

Gwich’in Council International

GIUK

Greenland Iceland United Kingdom

IASC

International Arctic Science Committee

ICC

Inuit Circumpolar Council

ICJ

International Court of Justice

IPCC

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change

IPY

International Polar Year

IR

International Relations

IMO

International Maritime Organization

INSROP

International Northern Sea Route Program

IUCN

International Union for Conservation of Nature

LNG

Liqufied Natural Gas

NASA

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NATO

North Atlantic Treaty Organization

NC

Nordic Council

NGO

Non-Governmental Organization

NF

Northern Forum

NSIDC

National Snow and Ice Data Center

NWP

Northwest Passage

NSR

Northern Sea Route

MARPOL

Int. Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships

MOSPA

Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response Agreement

UArctic

University of Arctic

UK

United Kingdom

US/USA

United States of America

USSR

Union of Soviet Socialist Republics

USGS

United States Geological Survey

UN

United Nations

UNEP

United Nations Environment Program

UNCLOS

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

PAME

Protection of Arctic Marine Environment

POP

Persistent Organic Pollutant

RAIPON

Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North

SAO

Senior Arctic Official

SAR

Search and Rescue

SCPAR

Standing Committee of Parliamentarians of the Arctic Region

SCTF

Task Force on Enhancing Scientific Cooperation in the Arctic

SDP

Sustainable Development Program

SDWG

Sustainable Development Working Group

SOLAS

International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea

STCW

Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping

SWIPA

Snow, Water, Ice and Permafrost in the Arctic

TF

Task Force

TFAMC

Task Force on Arctic Marine Cooperation

TFII

Task Force on Institutional Issues

TFMOPPR

Task Force on Marine Oil Pollution Preparedness and Response

TFSR

Task Force on Search and Rescue

WMO

World Meteorological Organization

WWF

World Wide Fund

Chapter 1: Introduction

It is now beyond question that Arctic Region is experiencing an unprecedented and radical transformation. Due to the impacts of global warming, physical, climatic, and environmental conditions of the Arctic Region are rapidly changing. According to the recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report, the Arctic is the fastest-warming region on the Earth; temperatures are increasing at a rate two to three times higher than the rest of the planet. More precisely, the IPCC Sixth Assessment report underlines that;

the Arctic has warmed at more than twice the global rate over the past 50 years and it is virtually certain that surface warming in the Arctic will continue to be more pronounced than the global average warming over the 21st century. (IPCC, 2022)

Details

Pages
290
ISBN (PDF)
9783631923153
ISBN (ePUB)
9783631923160
ISBN (Hardcover)
9783631920336
DOI
10.3726/b22082
Language
English
Publication date
2024 (August)
Keywords
Arctic Politics Arctic International Relations Arctic Security Arctic Council Arctic Governance Arctic Regime Arctic Shipping Routes
Published
Berlin, Bruxelles, Chennai, Lausanne, New York, Oxford, 2024. 290 pp., 1 fig. b/w, 11 tables.
Product Safety
Peter Lang Group AG

Biographical notes

Emirhan Altunkaya (Author)

Emirhan Altunkaya completed his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in International Relations at Galatasaray University, Istanbul, with exchange studies in Lyon and Paris. He joined Galatasaray University as a research assistant in 2015 and completed his PhD at Middle East Technical University in 2023, spending 2019-2020 at NYU as a Fulbright Scholar. His research focuses on Arctic international security during the Climate Change Era.

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Title: Arctic Region in the Climate Change Era: Zone of Conflict or Zone of Cooperation?