According to a report on Russian strategies in the Arctic, there is a need for more transparent, predictable and consistent policies of Arctic states. The report, launched in Sochi, Russia, is written by Professor Lassi Heininen from the University of Lapland, Finland, Professor Alexander Sergunin from the St. Petersburg State University, Russia and Associate Professor Gleb Yarovoy from the Petrozavodsk State University, Russia.
The report
Russian Strategies in the Arctic: Avoiding a New Cold War was launched in October 22, 2014 on the sidelines of the 11th annual meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club in Sochi. The report is an analysis and assessment of the globalized Arctic with high political stability and keen international cooperation, as well as with environmental problems and growing global interest. The focus is Russia’s activities and interests in the Arctic, particularly in the Russian Arctic, and Russian policies in and dealing with the Arctic region.
According to the report the Arctic region including the Russian Arctic faces both challenges and opportunities, and needs more transparent, predictable and consistent policies of Arctic states, and a kind of up-dated version of 'new thinking'.
Professor Lassi Heininen, who was the leader of the research project, says that the report is politically very timely and academically relevant.
"It is an alternative approach to the current situation of a constant fight against international terror and several regional wars, and a loud rhetoric full of mis- and disinformation, rumours and falsification", notes Professor Heininen.
Behind is a growing concern that due to the recent crises, in which Arctic states are involved, the current era of high political stability of the Arctic, based on a keen international cooperation and much supported by non-state actors, may be lost. The international community, as well the Arctic region, is facing real world-wide challenges, like Ebola, impacts of unavoidable climate change, like loss of sea ice, and holistic environmental degradation, like long-range pollution, and corresponding structural societal problems of the global system, like growing inequality.
"In this kind of environment, the human-built stability and peacefulness of the Arctic can, and should, be interpreted as a joint valuable asset by the eight Arctic states. It could act as an example for the rest of the world, as well as a test ground to examine innovative ways of governance, economic development and human security. Here Russia would, potentially, play an important role", says Professor Heininen.
The report
Russian Strategies in the Arctic: Avoiding a New Cold War is available
on the web site of the Valdai Club.
Further information:
Professor Lassi Heininen
Tel. +358 40 484 4215
lassi.heininen (at) ulapland.fi
ULapland/Communications/SV