Governance by conference? Actors and agendas in Arctic politics
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https://hdl.handle.net/10037/20490Date
2021-02-19Type
Doctoral thesisDoktorgradsavhandling
Author
Steinveg, BeateAbstract
The Arctic has become a core national priority for the Arctic states, and the region has attracted the interest of non-Arctic state actors. Since the 1990s, the Arctic has been characterized by cooperative institutions forming a complex picture of transnational collaboration. Increased interest towards the region, catalyzed by geopolitical changes and the impacts of climate change, has also been accompanied by a growth in the establishment of conferences on Arctic issues. Yet, there has been no systematic examination of the role and functions of conferences in Arctic governance. This thesis contributes to filling this knowledge gap, by examining conferences as a new element of the soft-law dimension of the Arctic governance architecture – operating in the intersection between sovereign states and formalized cooperative arrangements. Through an in-depth case study of the two largest arenas for international dialogue in the region: the Arctic Frontiers (Tromsø) and the Arctic Circle Assembly (Reykjavik), and three mechanisms – actors, agenda setting, and the Arctic governance architecture – as points of influence, the thesis concludes on the functions of conferences within Arctic governance. I argue for interaction through conferences as a solution to the challenges of managing the growing number of agenda issues and governance arrangements, and to balance the interests and activities of new stakeholders with those of Arctic rights-holders.
Firstly, I demonstrate how Arctic issues have developed a global dimension, and that the dynamic and multidimensional platform provided by conferences has contributed to a broader and refocused globalized agenda. While not governing arenas, I establish how conferences blur the line between governance and dialogue. Secondly, the shift in the Arctic agenda has led to changes in who proclaim to be legitimate stakeholders. The involvement of non-Arctic states can prove central for diplomatic relations, and balanced social and economic development of the Arctic. From this, I argue that the political implications of evolving economic interests open a space for conferences. Thirdly, I demonstrate how conferences contribute as linkages among the growing number of elements in the complex Arctic governance architecture. Conferences function as supplements to the Arctic Council and other arrangements – in expanding the agenda, broadening stakeholder involvement, and improving communication and outreach – but are also complementing alternative arenas, fulfilling unique functions within the Arctic regime complex. Fra å være en geopolitisk buffersone under den kalde krigen, har Arktis blitt en nasjonal prioritet for de arktiske statene, og regionen opplever stadig økende interesse fra ikke-arktiske stater. Samtidig som geopolitiske og klimatiske endringer fører til økende interesse for Arktis, har det vært en betydelig vekst i antallet arktiske konferanser. Konferansene er sentrale møteplasser for internasjonalt og tverrfaglig vitenskapelig samarbeid, og for diskusjoner om regionens geopolitiske struktur. Til tross for dette er det ikke gjort systematisk forskning på konferanser innenfor Arctic governance. Denne avhandlingen fyller dette kunnskapshullet, gjennom en studie av konferanser som et nytt element innenfor myk-makt dimensjonen av Arctic governance – i skjæringspunktet mellom suverene stater og formelle samarbeidsorganer. Ved å fokusere på tre mekanismer – aktører, agendasetting og governance-systemets arkitektur – som mulige påvirkningskanaler, konkluderer studien om hvordan Arctic governance påvirkes av konferanser. Det gjøres gjennom en casestudie av de to største arenaene for internasjonal dialog i regionen: Arctic Frontiers (Tromsø) og Arctic Circle Assembly (Reykjavik).
De viktigste funnene i studien er at den dynamiske og multi-dimensjonale plattformen konferanser skaper har bidratt til en globalisert agenda i Arktis. Konferanser er arenaer hvor deltakere kan kommunisere sine interesser og aktiviteter for å påvirke agendaen. For det andre har den utvidede agendaen ført til endringer i aktørsammensetningen i Arktis. En av konferansenes hovedfunksjoner er å skape en plattform hvor ikke-arktiske stater kan argumentere for sin legitimitet i regionen. Konferanser spiller dermed en viktig rolle i å inkorporere et økende antall interessenter. For det tredje har Arctic governance arkitekturen blitt mer kompleks som følge av en utvidet agenda og et økende antall involverte aktører, noe som nødvendiggjør rolleavklaringer og samarbeid før å møte nye utfordringer. Konferanser bidrar således med en uformell setting hvor aktører og enheter innenfor denne arkitekturen kan møtes på nøytral grunn, og utgjør bindeledd i det arktiske regimekomplekset.
Publisher
UiT Norges arktiske universitetUiT The Arctic University of Norway
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