The Fast-Changing Arctic: Rethinking Arctic Security for a Warmer World

The circumpolar arctic is facing a period of unprecedented change which will have ongoing ramifications for strategic, military, and security issues in the high North. What challenges will we face as these changes take place?

In this timely book, international scholars and military professionals come together to explore the strategic consequences of the thawing of the Arctic. Their analyses of efforts by governments and defence, security, and coast guard organizations to address these challenges make timely and urgent reading.

Rather than a single national perspective, The Fast-Changing Arctic brings together circumpolar viewpoints from North America, Europe and Asia for an integrated discussion of strategic military, diplomatic, and security challenges in the high North. Thoughtful analyses are included of different regions, climate issues, institutions, and foreign and security policies.

This is an important book for students of international studies, political science, and northern studies.

With a Foreword by the Honorable Mead Treadwell and an Afterword by Lawson W. Brigham.

With Contributions By: Alun Anderson, Caitlyn Antrim, Rasmus Gjedsso Bertelsen, Lawson W. Brigham, Ian G. Brosnan, Daniel Clausen, J.G. Michael Clausen, Lassi Kalevi Heininen, Nong Hong, Rob Huebert, Henrik Jedig Jorgensen, P. Whitney Lackenbauer, Thomas M. Leschine, James Manicom, Edward L. Miles, Barry Scott Zellen, and Katarzyna Zysk

Barry Scott Zellen is a specialist on Arctic security, sovereignty, and self-governance. He directs the Fast-Changing Arctic Project as a Senior Fellow at the Institute of the North and is a member of the board of directors of the Arctic Research Consortium of the United States.

Foreword: Witnessing an Arctic Renaissance
Mead Treadwell, Lieutenant Governor, State of Alaska

Arctic Climate Change: Strategic Challenges and Opportunities

The Fast-Changing Arctic
Lawson W. Brigham

Can We Keep Up with Arctic Change?
Alun Anderson

"Politicization&quot” of the Environment: Environmental Politics and Security in the Cirucmpolar North
Lassi Kalevi Heininen

Conceptualizing Climate Change Security for a Warming World: Complexity and the Environment-Conflict Linkage
Daniel Clausen and LTJG Michael Clausen, USCG

Cooperation and Conflict: Paths Foreward

Cooperation or Conflict in a Changing Arctic? Opportunities for Maritime Cooperation in Arctic National Strategies
Ian G. Brosnan, Thomas M. Leschine, and Edward L. Miles

Energy and the Arctic Dispute: Pathway to Conflict or Cooperation?
Nong Hong

Maritime Boundary Disputes in East Asia: Lessons for the Arctic
Maj. James Mincom

Babysteps: Developing Multilateral Institutions in the Arctic
Henrik Jedig J ørgensen

Regional Perspectives

Europe at the High North Atlantic

Structural, Environmental, and Political Conditions for Security Policy in the High North Atlantic: The Faroe Islands, Greenland, and Iceland
Rasmus Gjedssø Berelsen

North America

US Arctic Policy: The Reluctant Arctic Power
Rob Huebert

US Defence Policy and the North: The Emergent Arctic Power
Barry Scott Zellen

Russia

Mirror Images? Canada, Russia, and the Circumpolar World
P. Whitney Lackenbauer

Russia’s Arctic Strategy: Ambitions and Restraints
Katarzyna Zysk

Russia Opens Its Maritime Arctic
Lawson W. Brigham

Regional Security and Prosperity: The Us-Russia Reset in the Antemeridial Arctic
Caitlyn Antrim

Concluding Observations

Stability and Security in a Post-Arctic World: Toward a Convergence of Indgenous, State, and Global Interests at the Top of the World
Barry Scott Zellen

Afterword: Think Again—The Arctic
Lawson W. Brigham

About the Contributing Authors

Index

The Fast-Changing Arctic is a comprehensive treatment of current Arctic policy issues by authors with diverse backgrounds and perspectives . . . a coherent whole.

—John D. Jacobs, Arctic, Antarctic, and Alpine Research

The Fast-Changing Arctic provides many new perspectives on a traditional understanding of Arctic security.

—Nikolas Sellheim, The Polar Record