Changing Svalbard: Tracing interrelated socio-economic and environmental change in remote Arctic settlements

Abstract

The archipelago of Svalbard is a good example of an Arctic locale undergoing rapid changes on multiple levels. This contribution is a joint effort of three anthropologists with up-to-date ethnographic data from Svalbard (mostly Longyearbyen and Barentsburg) to frame and interpret interconnected changes. The processes impacting Svalbard are related to issues such as geopolitical interests, and increasing pressure by the Norwegian government to exercise presence and control over the territory. Our interpretations are based on a bottom-up approach, drawing on experiences living in the field. We identify three great ruptures in recent years – the avalanche of 2015, the gradual phasing out of mining enterprises and the COVID-19 pandemic – and show how they further impact, accelerate or highlight preexisting vulnerabilities in terms of socio-economic development, and environmental and climate change. We discuss the shift from coal mining to the industries of tourism, education, and research and development, and the resulting changed social and demographic structure of the settlements. Another facet is the complexity of environmental drivers of change and how they relate to the socio-economic ones. This article serves as an introductory text to the collection of articles published in Polar Record in 2021/2022 with the overarching theme “changing Svalbard”. Issues discussed range from socio-economic change and its implications for local populations including identity of place, through tourism (value creation, mediation, human–environment relations, environmental dilemmas, balancing contradictory trends), to security and risk perception, and environmental and climate change issues.

Permafrost thaw challenges and life in Svalbard

“…Also, there is little research available from Russian settlements on Svalbard, Barentsburg, and Pyramiden on climate change impacts and adaptation, which would allow a detailed comparison. Vlakhov's (Sokolickova et al, 2022) research from Barentsburg indicates that the climate change and adaptation discourse is virtually absent in this Russian coal mining company town, and that environmental concerns are restricted to practical and visible issues such as waste management.…”

Managing Svalbard Tourism: Inconsistencies and Conflicts of Interest

“…34 In September 2021, the Norwegian government opened a broad hearing process and suggested amendments to the SEPA and associated regulations. 35 The proposed changes signal increased state control, 36 and the process resulted in significant reactions from Longyearbyen business operators, the local population, 37 and others. The form of the new regulations after the evaluation of responses to the hearing remains undetermined.…”

The trouble with local community in Longyearbyen, Svalbard: Howbig politicsand lack offellesskaphinder a not-yet-decided future

“…The issue of solidarity was recollected by numerous participants, especially in connection to the state of emergency caused by the avalanche in 2015 that works as a rupture in the collective memory of the place (Sokolíčková, Meyer & Vlakhov, 2022). Yet once again, change is palpable in the short period of several years: I think if shit really hits the fan, then that is when the local community steps up.…”

“…This collection of articles, including this paper, focuses on change. Dynamic processes and developments in Svalbard on all scales Sokolíčková, Meyer & Vlakhov, 2022) studied from the perspectives of manifold academic disciplines are in the spotlight of the contributing social scientists, humanities and arts scholars. The research project within which I created data presented in this article also focuses on changenamely how people describe, perceive and interpret it, and how it influences their lives.…”