In the arctic, sovereignty equals security and stability. State sovereignty legal definition of state sovereignty. To do so later, or to do so now in some half measure, will ensure that canadian arctic sovereignty and security is merely a theory and never a. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security one of the great polar navigators captain t. During the cold war, arctic security was inseparable from national security, nuclear deterrence and the bipolar rivalry between the american and soviet superpowers. The traditional view of arctic security focuses on military defence, especially the protection of national borders and the assertion of state sovereignty over arctic land and water. The sovereignty of a state is determined with reference to the u. Arctic sovereignty introduction to international relations. Canada must be prepared to deal with challenges to its arctic sovereignty and security now, in a concise and effective manner. Five of the arctic councils eight members are also part of nato canada, denmark, iceland. Contested sovereignty in a changing arctic abstract climate change is challenging the notions of permanency and stability on which the ideal of the sovereign, territorial state historically has rested.
Vigorous academic debates about canadas arctic security posture both domestic and grapple with international dimensions and many dynamics that that transcend both categories. Interest in the northwest passage arises from its potential for international shipping. Canadian arctic sovereignty essay 1220 words bartleby. As an arctic nation canada is not immune to the consequences of these transformations. As states expand their sovereignty claims northward in pursuit of potential. By taneil george as the arctic continues to melt, concern over who can claim sovereignty over it continues to rise. Canada has a rich history in the north, and canadas sovereignty is the foundation for realizing the full potential of canadas north, including its human dimension. Canadas arctic sovereignty is on thin ice now magazine. Sovereignty is not the issue in the canadian arctic says. Rising temperatures, accessibility to vital resources, questions of sovereignty and jurisdiction, and the need to secure national interests in a global era has led to a host of states seeking an arctic dominance. This book will interest scholars, practitioners, and students in arctic studies, critical geography, political science, and communication studies. Inuit are patriotic canadians, and we believe that canada must have an adequate military presence and surveillance capacity in the arctic.
Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security one. Arctic security means more than arctic sovereignty. A conflict on how to monitor the arctic islands and the security around that region. Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land. Climate change and rising oil prices have thrust the arctic to the top of the foreign policy agenda and raised difficult issues of sovereignty, security and environmental protection. Berry, dawn alexandrea, bowles, nigel, jones, halbert eds. The time of absolute and exclusive sovereignty, however, has passed. Social studies 20arctic sovereignty and canada by shanyce. The northwest blockage, luiza savage, macleans, february 27, 2006. That said, an effective sovereignty and security program. Traditional notions of sovereignty rest on a states ability to govern itself free from outside interference. Can you speak to some of the impacts that climate change has had on the arctic security situation. Sovereignty, security and surveillance in the canadian arctic by william carruthers a thesis submitted to the faculty of graduate studies in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of master of strategic studies graduate program in military and strategic studies calgary, alberta january, 2015. Arctic sovereignty introduction to international relations written by.
Nov 01, 2011 as an arctic nation canada is not immune to the consequences of these transformations. By establishing a permanent military base on the arctic ocean the united states will ensure the priorities established in the national security presidential directive66homeland security presidential directive25. Byers, a canadian scholar of international law, surveys the emerging lines of conflict, focusing on territorial and sovereignty disputes. Canadas arctic sovereignty is firmly anchored in history. Almost 100 years ago, in 1909, a plaque was installed on melville island by famed quebecois seaman joseph bernier, captain of the canadian government ship arctic. Bob rea made a point that we need to stop looking at the arctic as a playground for our ideas about economic development and military strategy. Table of contents introduction media, security and sovereignty in the canadian arctic. It is rare that a territory seen by so few can be emotionally, spiritually, and personally so compellingly.
Jan 20, 2016 canadas arctic sovereignty is on thin ice. On 7 november, international inuit day, we expressed unity in our concerns over arctic sovereignty. Though the experience of each of these jurisdictions is unique, their place within democratic, federal systems and the prominence within each of them of issues relating to the rights of indigenous peoples situates them as part of an identifiably north american arctic. However, a recent public opinion survey, rethinking the top of the world. Wwii history, is that canadian arctic policy does not appear to reflect these security.
The traditional view of arctic security focuses on military defense, especially the protection of national borders and the assertion of state sovereignty over arctic land and water. Arctic security means more than arctic sovereignty the. Norway and the struggle for power in the new north by jensen, leif christian. At first glance it conjures up notions of border security and military operations. Sarah hertz, marketing administrator, university of calgary press the arctic is front page news in canada and around the world. It recognises the politics of inuit and the arctic as longstanding and intricate elements of international relations. Thinking critically about security and the arctic in the. Governing the north american arctic sovereignty, security, and institutions. Canada falling short on arctic sovereignty geopolitical monitor. One of canadas priorities in regards to arctic sovereignty should be to protect the inuit people not only because they are experiencing a loss in culture, but the circumpolar inuit declaration on arctic sovereignty also declares that the inuit have rights to the resources and the land upon which they live on. Canadas northern strategy under prime minister stephen harper. Climate change has made it clear that the arctic environmental transformation poses some very real security concerns for canada. Organized by milton l mueller, syracuse university school of information studies, and hans klein, georgia institute of. Apr 01, 2015 the united states takes over the chairmanship of the arctic council from canada on april 24 during the arctic council ministerial meeting in iqaluit, nunavut, canada.
Ocdt jennifer wotherspoon major brister early 20th century explorer vilhalmur stefannson was correct in his assertion that the arctic was essentially a treasure chest of natural resources, and in his corresponding prediction that the far north would become a vital national interest for canada and the. However, the arctic has always remained a vital strategic region for euroatlantic security. Exercising sovereignty over canadas north, as over the rest of canada, is our number one arctic foreign policy priority. Media, security and sovereignty in the canadian arctic. What is puzzling, given the rather commonplace evocation of security threats in discussion of canadas arctic region currently and through much of its post. A key objective is to demonstrate that, although the arctic is the site of competing natural resources and land claims, which are emerging from such phenomena as melting ice and new sea routes, there are also many signs of fruitful regional cooperation and. Canada, norway, russia, denmark via greenland, iceland, sweden, finland and the united states. Vigorous academic debates about canadas arctic security posture both domestic and grapple with international dimensions and. The arctic should be a major consideration in discussions of u. Apr 14, 2016 if canada enjoyed undisputed sovereignty over the northwest passage, it could legally exclude the ships and strengthen continental defense. Sovereignty definition is supreme power especially over a body politic. Arctic sovereignty and canada by asbah and shanyce ongoing issue, because territorial claims change every ten years for whichever nation that wants to have the arctic under their responsibility. In recent years, rapid climate change has brought the far north to.
Ccg is a core member of canadas maritime security community and collaborates with partners through a variety of fora to advance arctic objectives. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. If we dont do that, we will lose the battle for resources which means well also lose in a big battle for the right to have sovereignty and independence, rogozin stated at the marine board meeting in moscow. Unlike international governance specified for antarctica by treaty, arctic governance is a composite of national sovereignty and the multilateral arctic council in which the five coastal states join three arctic states finland, iceland, and sweden without coastal access to the arctic ocean, and representatives of six indigenous peoples. Arctic security and legal issues in the 21st century.
Canadas sovereignty over its arctic waters will be chal lenged as a warming climate decreases the levels of polar ice coverage, thereby making navigation easier for international marine traffic. Geopolitical arctic threats and challenges current geopolitical threat level is nebulous and low for now issue is the uncertainty as arctic states and nonarctic states begin to recognize the geopoliticaleconomic significance of the arctic because of climate change 1. A ship carry ing oil from europe to asia has to travel roughly,000. A possible model for arctic governance, the authors assert that as the environmental, economic, and security impacts of the arctic are global in nature, its governance should also be correspondingly global, and the united states, as both an arctic state and the largest economy in the world, should take the lead in fostering international cooperation in the arctic.
Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security canada. State department pointed out that americas global interest in the freedom of the sea trumped and would always trump arctic security concerns. International law regulates this area as with other portions of the earth. On the one hand, there is talk of a new cold war brewing, tied to a race for resources with nations scrambling to claim the. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security. National sovereignty should be the cornerstone of u. Promises of vast resources and fabled shipping lanes set free by a melting ice pack have triggered a competition for land and influence across the region. The new arctic challenge the militarization of the arctic oran r. This series was created to disseminate core documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security for use by the academic community, students, and policy makers. Canadian arctic sovereignty and security in a transforming. Booklet statement on canadas arctic foreign policy. Canadas security, sovereignty, and environmental concerns in the arctic by huebert, rob. Mar 23, 2016 the traditional view of arctic security focuses on military defense, especially the protection of national borders and the assertion of state sovereignty over arctic land and water.
These ebooks are edited summaries and document compendiums, compiled as research tools to serve as a basis for in depth research. Securing canadian sovereignty in the arctic canada. The arctic is indeed part of our history, as the prime minister noted, and a robust understanding of previous sovereignty and security thinking, policy, and practices should inform our assessment of policy options, probable future scenarios, and the feasibility of proposed courses of action. Canadas wholeofgovernment approach to arctic sovereignty and security aligns with the horizontal, collaborative approach to maritime security used for all canadian waters and approaches. Sovereignty, security, and stewardship, the authors, all leading commentators on arctic affairs, grapple with fundamental questions about how canada should craft a responsible and effective northern strategy. Arctic security in an age of climate change by kraska. A commonsense approach to global security by anna simons, joe mcgraw, and duane lauchengco.
Oct 22, 2007 inuit are patriotic canadians, and we believe that canada must have an adequate military presence and surveillance capacity in the arctic. Expressing concerns over maritime safety and security, recognition of northern sovereignty, and protection of the fragile arctic environment, canada has sought to exercise greater authority over. Climate change and arctic sovereignty the arctic institute. If canada enjoyed undisputed sovereignty over the northwest passage, it could legally exclude the ships and strengthen continental defense. As assessed by political strategist and former canadian senator from ontario, hugh segal, in the foreword of canada and the changing arctic. Battle for arctic key for russias sovereignty rogozin. The state understands its national security to be promoted through the militarized assertion of sovereignty that enables arctic resource extraction, which in turn demonstrates that canada is actually exercising. Sovereignty, security, and institutions st antonys series berry, dawn alexandrea, bowles, nigel, jones, halbert on. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world 3 executive summary in may of this year, about 200 kilometres north of the arctic circle, representatives from the five coastal states of the arctic gathered in the small town of ilulissat, greenland to discuss the future of the north. Sovereignty and security in the arctic dosman, edgar j. The united states has long pressed canada to beef up its military but this is not quite what it. Its crucially important for us to set goals for our national interests in this region. Secretary general boutros boutrosghali confronted the tension between sovereignty and security in his 1992 report an agenda for peace when he stated. Arctic framework that will serve as a guideline for rules of engagement.
Questions abound about what this will mean for the canadian forces, for canadas sovereignty position, for northern peoples, and for stability and security in the circumpolar world. To that end, the federal government has made a number of steps in exercising sovereignty in the. Oct 30, 2014 the state of canadas arctic sovereignty and security is detailed in this video produced by michael mitchell as a component of his ma in conflict analysis and management studies at royal roads. All land, internal waters, territorial seas and eezs in the arctic are under the jurisdiction of one of the eight arctic coastal states. Arctic sovereignty also encompasses canada being able to effectively monitor and enforce authority over its northern land, sea, and air. Even though it will take years for the melting of the arctic ice sheets to trigger widespread coastal flooding, other effects have already appeared.
Ridderhof on january 10, 2014 leave a comment see comments on this post 1 canada, the us, norway, russia, and denmark have been gathering scientific evidence for more than a decade in an effort to increase their continental shelf claims in the arctic ocean region. Arctic sovereignty is a key part of canadas history and future 40 per cent of the countrys landmass is in its three northern territories, and the country has 162,000 kilometers km of arctic coastline. As the arctic undergoes drastic change, it has become a hotly contested region attracting unprecedented international attention. What arctic sovereignty and security mean is changing rapidly due to the intersection of globalization, climate change and a greater acknowledgment of indigenous rights. Dec 06, 2017 climate change and arctic sovereignty december 6, 2017 by victoria herrmann tai in the news policy talks victoria herrmann discusses climate change, sovereignty, and national identity in the canadian arctic with policy talks podcast. Young strategic interests in the arctic ocean michael mccgwire soviet military objectives in the arctic theatre and how they might be obtained charles c. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world. It proclaimed, on the ground for the first time, canadas sovereignty over the entire arctic archipelago. One of the main conclusions from the report was that sovereignty is not the main issue of the canadian arctic, but in fact it is, those of security, national defence, stewardship, wellbeing, and prosperity. Sovereignty definition of sovereignty by merriamwebster. The arctic yearbook is the outcome of the northern research forum and the university of the arctic thematic network tn on geopolitics and security. A recent international conference in ottawa has provided much food for thought on this question. Improved access for shipping and resource development is leading to new international rules on safety, pollution prevention and emergency response. Dcass centre for military, security and strategic studies.
Drawing out the complex relationship between domestic, arctic, international and transnational inuit politics, this book is the first in depth account of the political history of the icc. Mixed messages from journalists, academics, and government representatives predict both conflict and cooperation in the region. The emerging arctic security environment summary project leaders huebert, rob lackenbauer, whitney climate change, undefined or disputed boundaries, access to resources and newly viable transportation routes and governance issues are generating significant questions about arctic security and circumpolar geopolitics in the twentyfirst century. Petersen competing images of the eastwest strategic environment. The subject of arctic sovereignty is sensitive in canada. This report provides multiple perspectives on security in the arctic area. They outline diverse paths to achieving sovereignty, security, and stewardship in canadaas arctic and in the broader circumpolar world. Nowhere is this challenge more pressing than in the arctic. Canadian arctic sovereignty the canadian encyclopedia. Climate change and new ideas about sovereignty and security in the canadian arctic was mounted in january by the canadian arctic resources committee, the centre for military and. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security one of. Jul 15, 2014 in a recent speech at the nato council of canadas conference on canadas arctic sovereignty and security, the hon.
411 1334 399 534 1014 1251 1179 1613 1054 887 1379 381 780 682 359 1142 947 61 779 1642 120 408 763 1372 1622 177 1269 439 549 709 67 1200 946 987 793 117 240 886 750 1100 785 342 1269 575 1018 39 508