Governing Complexity in the Arctic Region

Landriault, Mathieu; Chater, Andrew; Rowe, Elana Wilson; Lackenbauer, P. Whitney

doi:10.4324/9780429299551

Cited by 5 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…We do not oppose such comparison in principle but intend to point out that also the subregional, national and subnational levels of the Arctic governance complex are often unique and constitute a variety and diversity of Arctic political contexts. In our view, these exceptionalisms too should be given greater attention in comparative research designs (see for instance Landriault et al, 2019).…”

Section: Methodological Monoculturalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Arctic is an exemplary world region for the intricacies of human-nature relationships and the complex entanglements of environmental, climate, resource and security governance at all levels from the very local to the international. The complexity of these governance questions and the short time horizon to respond to a rapidly changing and fragile environment exerts immense pressure on the multi-level governance system put in place over the past two decades to steer the future of the world's northernmost region (Keil & Knecht, 2017a;Landriault, Chater, Wilson Rowe, & Lackenbauer, 2019). Warming at twice the rate of the global average, the circumpolar North is all at once a signifier, victim and amplifier of the devastating effects of global climate change.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is Arctic governance research in crisis? A pathological diagnosis

Knecht

Laubenstein

2020

Polar Record

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The governance of the Arctic as a frontier for international environmental and climate cooperation, resource politics and security governance holds the promise to provide important insights into some of the 21st century’s most enduring and pressing global challenges. This article reviews the state of the art of Arctic governance research (AGR) to assess the potential and limitations of a regional studies community for making sense of Northern politics and contributing to the broader discipline of international relations (IR) research. A bibliometric analysis of 398 articles published in 10 outlets between 2008 and 2019 reveals that AGR faces at least four limitations that undermine understanding and explaining the processes and outcomes of regional politics and inhibit generalisable observations applicable to questions of global governance: academic immaturity, methodological monoculturalism, state-centrism and analytical parochialism. The lack particularly of theoretically driven and comparative research is indicative of a deeper crisis in AGR which, if unaddressed, could further solidify the community’s unjustified reputation as quixotic in orientation and negligible in its contributions to IR research.

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Section: Methodological Monoculturalismmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Is Arctic governance research in crisis? A pathological diagnosis

Knecht

Laubenstein

2020

Polar Record

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“…However, the bulk of the investments and initiatives was initiated by Finland, Sweden or Norway, with Russia as the main recipient. Cooperation was not entirely reciprocal as the main objective for Norway was to maintain a pathway of engagement with Russia and to limit the possible impact of cross-border phenomenon, such as pollution (Landriault et al 2019).…”

Section: Arctic Cross-border Cooperation and The Naamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These governance initiatives have been mostly successful in bringing together decision-makers and sharing their perspectives on the challenges and opportunities they face in the Arctic. However, this type of cooperation has seldom produced tangible results or initiatives in the form of action programmes and implementable measures (Landriault et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perceptions of decision-makers about a potential forum of cooperation in the eastern part of the North American Arctic

2023

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Cooperation in the Arctic region has been fruitful in the past few decades, generating several multilateral organizations and forums covering the entire circumpolar North. In many cases, forums were created to serve as catalysts, bringing together decision-makers from different backgrounds in a conference setting to promote dialogue and the exchange of ideas. To enquire about the possibility of creating a forum of cooperation in the eastern North American Arctic, a total of five governmental officials from Canada, Denmark, Nunavut, Québec and Greenland, and one elected representative from Greenland were interviewed with the same set of five questions. The governmental officials were in senior positions at the main department focusing on foreign affairs in their respective jurisdictions. Most thought that a new forum of cooperation in the region would be highly desirable, on the grounds of shared interests, common identity and cultural affinities. Consensual positions were also found regarding the central role that civil society would play in a new cooperative venue and on sub-national governments assuming a leading role to spearhead the initiative. Following these interviews, it is difficult to pinpoint one government that could alone spearhead this new forum of cooperation. However, the governments of Nunavut and Greenland were the most enthusiastic about such a new regional forum. Given Greenland’s drive to complete independence, this type of forum could prove to be a statement of diplomatic motivation and ambition, tilting toward proto-diplomacy and an international policy that prepares the terrain for complete autonomy.

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“…Arctic nations' coast guards are tasked with enforcing this fishing ban regime in the Central Arctic Ocean. 50 If the Central Arctic Ocean is ice-free during the summer by mid-century, access to fish stocks may change the equation and push the Arctic powers to revise or even abolish the existing fishery regime.…”

Section: Changing Roles Of Military Power In the High Northmentioning

confidence: 99%

Canada’s and Russia’s Security and Defence Strategies in the Arctic: A Comparative Analysis

Lackenbauer

Sergunin

2022

Arctic Review

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This comparative article reveals how the general focus of Canadian and Russian threat perceptions in the Arctic have shifted from a Cold War fixation on hard defence to accommodate soft security issues over the last three decades. Both countries now pay greater attention to threats and challenges stemming from climate change, security, and safety risks associated with resource development and increasingly accessible sea routes. Although concern about military conflict arising from Arctic disputes continues to frame some media discussions in both countries, most strategic analysts and academics have moved away from this line of argument. Instead, military functions now include assertion of Canadian and Russian sovereignty over their respective internal waters, as well as protection of resources in their exclusive economic zones and on and in extended continental shelves; protection of economic interests in the North, including mineral and bio-resources; prevention of potential terrorist attacks against critical industrial and state infrastructure; and dual-use functions, such as search and rescue operations, surveillance of air and maritime spaces, support to safe navigation, and mitigation of natural and human-made catastrophes. The authors argue that analysts should parse two forms of military modernization in the Arctic: one of capability development related to the global strategic balance, where the Arctic serves as a bastion or a thoroughfare; and a second intended to address emerging non-traditional security challenges. They contend that these modernization programs do not inherently upset the Arctic military balance and need not provoke a regional arms race.

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Governing Complexity in the Arctic Region

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Is Arctic governance research in crisis? A pathological diagnosis

Is Arctic governance research in crisis? A pathological diagnosis

Perceptions of decision-makers about a potential forum of cooperation in the eastern part of the North American Arctic

Canada’s and Russia’s Security and Defence Strategies in the Arctic: A Comparative Analysis

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