Unclos to submit their extended continental shelf claim to the commission. The line of argument is predicated on the idea that previous governments have failed to perfect canadian sovereignty in the arctic, and a more activist approach is necessary to defend canadas national interests. Nov 01, 2011 excerpt from canada and the changing arctic. Continental shelf negotiation, mediation and arbitration continental shelves sovereignty laws, regulations and rules. United states to cede sovereignty to an international body. Governing the north american arctic sovereignty, security, and. That said, an effective sovereignty and security program. Resolving arctic sovereignty from a scandinavian perspective. Sovereignty and security in the arctic dosman, edgar j. Russia is winning support for its claims on arctic shelf. Breaking the ice 9781459738973, 9781459738980 vitalsource. 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. Governing complexity in the arctic region crc press book. While norways arctic security, as part of its broader security policy, has been dominated by managing its relationship with russia, canadas arctic security policy revolves primarily around the issue of sovereignty as well as social and economic security.
A short history how a frigid no mans land became one of the most hotly contested territories on earth. Introduction media, security and sovereignty in the canadian arctic. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading canada and the changing 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. Contemporary canadian arctic policy can be found to stand squarely under the motto arctic sovereignty which lends legal, military, and security policy overtones to the changes currently taking place. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security one. Canadas arctic sovereignty is on thin ice now magazine.
The arctic is embedded in canadian history and culture, and in the canadian soul. Canadas security, sovereignty, and environmental concerns in the arctic by huebert, rob. Arctic security, climate change and sovereignty 37 a few introductory remarks on arctic security 37 climate change and the arctic 37 climate change and sovereignty 39 russia 40 the usa 43 canada 45 norway 46 denmark 48 the illulissat declaration 49. It is rare that a territory seen by so few can be emotionally, spiritually, and personally so compellingly important to so many. The arctic ocean, in the northern region of the arctic, is changing from a solid ocean of inaccessible ice fields into a growing navigable sea, attracting increased. Oct 22, 2007 inuit are patriotic canadians, and we believe that canada must have an adequate military presence and surveillance capacity in the arctic. May 07, 2015 robin campbell is a lawyer with hutchins legal inc. The first topic, the sovereignty and security of the arctic and the antarctic, will require delegates to think critically about issues involving international claims to land, access to raw resources, symbolic acts of power, and much more. A recent international conference in ottawa has provided much food for thought on this question. Arctic maritime security broadsides discussion forum. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security canada. In 2003, canada embarked on a historymaking project to define the outer limits of its continental shelf in the atlantic and arctic oceans. 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. He is researching arctic security, sovereignty, and governance issues in the circumpolar region in general and the canadian arctic in particular, as well as arctic paradiplomacy.
Arctic governments and arctic peoples may not be united on definitions of sovereignty and security. 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. In light of the impact that global warming is having on canadas northern borders and the increased arctic activity by countries other than canada, it is becoming more urgent than ever that canada take measures to display and maintain surveillance and sovereignty in the high. By taneil george as the arctic continues to melt, concern over who can claim sovereignty over it continues to rise. Defining our continental shelf is vital to ensuring our sovereignty and. Russia, denmark and canada all included the north pole in their. These ebooks are edited summaries and document compendiums, compiled as research tools to serve as a basis for in depth research. Robin is part of the hutchins legal team, led by peter w.
Chapter 1 the canadian media and arctic sovereignty crises. The united states exercises authority in accordance with lawful claims of united states sovereignty, sovereign rights, and jurisdiction in the arctic region, including sovereignty within the territorial sea, sovereign rights and jurisdiction within the united states exclusive economic zone and on the continental shelf, and appropriate control. Sovereignty and canadas arctic extended continental shelf the. Canada may also disagree with the united states, russia and denmark about its anticipated claim over its continental shelf boundaries in the arctic ocean.
Scholars must update their interpretations of the words to be more inclusive if we are to reduce the vulnerability and increase the resilience of arctic societies. Sovereignty, security, and stewardship by franklyn griffiths, rob huebert, and p. Arctic security and legal issues in the 21st century. This report provides multiple perspectives on security in the arctic area. The continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles is known as the extended continental shelf. Stewardship sovereignty, sustainable development and the protection of the arctic marine environment. Disarmament and international security committee munuc. Anthropocentric position in the arctic sovereignty. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world. 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.
Chapter 5 social media, arctic tourism and the crystal serenity. Human security and development in the arctic wilson center. Climate change has made it clear that the arctic environmental transformation poses some very real security concerns for canada. Arctic sovereignty also encompasses canada being able to effectively monitor and enforce authority over its northern land, sea, and air. Spring, 2009 sovereignty in the arctic 351 but rather the natural prolongation of its land territory. Documents on canadian arctic maritime sovereignty 19501988 documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security number edited by adam lajeunesse. Who owns the arctic securing canadian sovereignty in the.
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. If the commission decides fully in russias favor, the country will be able to claim sovereignty over 1. Oil is the crucial factor underlying the strife to claim sovereignty over the arctic. What exactly do we mean by canadian arctic sovereignty and is. Canadian arctic sovereignty essay 1220 words bartleby. Northeast passage, north of siberia, has raised security concerns as it. Injecting environmental values in international sovereignty law sven g. It proclaimed, on the ground for the first time, canadas sovereignty over the entire arctic archipelago. 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. 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. However, a recent public opinion survey, rethinking the top of the world.
Canadas arctic sovereignty is firmly anchored in history. Changing foreign policy roles in the changing arctic michal luszczuk 21. Furthermore the fact that ottawas allies are bound 1 china is acquiring arctic capabilities such as new ships with icestrengthened hulls and russia recently launched another arctic expedition to support its shelf claims. Canada files submission to establish continental shelf outer limits in. 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. Routledge ebooks are accessible via the free vitalsource bookshelf app for personal users and cannot be accessed on this site.
This book examines emerging forms of governance in the arctic region, exploring how different types of state and nonstate actors promote and support rules and standards. The free vitalsource bookshelf application allows you to access to your ebooks whenever and wherever you choose. Circumpolar inuit org supports canadas arctic shelf claim. The presence of such varied countries in the arctic and antarctic has led to many of the disputes in the region.
While the arctic issue in canada has a historical tendency to fade out of focus and then flare up in the eyes of the public, canadas primary motivation in asserting sovereignty over the region has remained relatively unchanged. Extreme temperatures, vast distances, and widely dispersed patterns of settlement have made it impossible for. Bringing together interconnected discussions to make explicit the complexity of the arctic region, this book offers a legal discussion of the ongoing territorial disputes and challenges in order to frame their impact into the viability of different governance strategies that are available at the national, regional and international level. Breaking the ice canada, sovereignty, and the arctic extended continental shelf by elizabeth riddelldixon and publisher a j. This discourse has developed over time and is an important part of canadian national identity. Todays submission is a major step toward securing legal and international recognition of the outer limits of canadas continental shelf in the arctic. Icc canada commends the government of canada for defending our sovereignty in the canadian arctic, icccanada said in a news release issued on may 24. An inuit leader says the federal government needs to actively engage the people of the canadian north on the issue of arctic sovereignty and security in order to. Arctic framework that will serve as a guideline for rules of engagement. 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. Read canadian arctic sovereignty and security in a transforming circumpolar world. This series was created to disseminate core documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security for use by the academic community, students, and policy. At first glance it conjures up notions of border security and military operations. Expanding on the first panels themes, the second group of presenters discussed the issue of borders and security in the arctic region, with an emphasis on the military aspect of national security.
The geopolitics of arctic passages and continental shelves. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of uk es. An introduction to inuit rights and arctic sovereignty. 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. Canadian arctic sovereignty the canadian encyclopedia. Arctic scholars can help bridge the gap between different understandings of sovereignty and security, by generating theoretical and policy insights that reflect a diversity of perspectives from around the region. Media, security and sovereignty in the canadian arctic from the. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security one of the great polar navigators captain t. Save up to 80% by choosing the etextbook option for isbn. Despite fears of an unregulated race for arctic territory and resources, there is currently considerable international cooperation occurring to address key issues in the far north, said betsy baker of vermont law school at an event hosted by the canada institute in collaboration with the friedrich ebert foundation and the wilson centers kennan institute and environmental change and security. Can you speak to some of the impacts that climate change has had on the arctic security situation. 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.
By raj pattani this article will evaluate canadian claims to arctic territory and ottawas ability to protect those claims. Though it has been home for centuries to indigenous peoples who have mastered its conditions, the arctic has historically proven to be a difficult region for governments to administer. Interest in the northwest passage arises from its potential for international shipping. Canada, the united states, and arctic security rob huebert and p. Exercising sovereignty over canadas north, as over the rest of canada, is our number one arctic foreign policy priority. Arctic states typically prioritize military defense, natural resource extraction and territorial expansion. Traditional notions of sovereignty rest on a states ability to govern itself free from outside interference. Sovereignty, security, and stewardship kindle edition by franklyn griffiths, rob huebert, p. What exactly do we mean by canadian arctic sovereignty and is it at risk. Governing the north american arctic sovereignty, security, and institutions. The issue of arctic sovereignty in 1925, canada amended its northwest territories act to require all foreign scientists and explorers in the arctic to obtain government permits.
This series was created to disseminate core documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security for use by the academic community, students, and policy makers. But people living in the arctic tend to stress social, economic, ecological and cultural concerns threatening their communities. Jan 20, 2016 canada has a choice when it comes to defending our sovereignty over the arctic. An estimated 85 countries, including canada, are thought to have an extended continental shelf. State department pointed out that americas global interest in the freedom of the sea trumped and would always trump arctic security concerns. All land, internal waters, territorial seas and eezs in the arctic are under the jurisdiction of one of the eight arctic coastal states. Aug 30, 2019 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. A circumpolar inuit declaration on sovereignty in the arctic. 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. Canada, sovereignty, and the arctic extended continental shelf contemporary canadian issues riddelldixon, elizabeth, english, john on. Arctic security in an age of climate change by kraska.
Regional governance and foreseeable challenges francois perreault 22. On 7 november, international inuit day, we expressed unity in our concerns over arctic sovereignty. Legal status and environmental protection of the arctic seaice. Defining our continental shelf is vital to ensuring our sovereignty and to serving the interests of all people, including indigenous peoples, in the arctic. During the cold war, arctic security was inseparable from national security, nuclear deterrence and the bipolar rivalry between the american and soviet superpowers. Simply put, the absence of a direct and proximate threat from russia is a determining.
Defining our continental shelf is vital to ensuring our sovereignty and to. Canada seeks to preserve the fragile arctic environment for highminded purposes. Broadly speaking, freedom of navigation and overflight are critical for the u. Arctic sovereignty and security in the north through the use of. First, it will describe the material and strategic benefits of holding arctic territory. The new arctic challenge the militarization of the arctic oran r. To that end, the federal government has made a number of steps in exercising sovereignty in the. Are new circumpolar threats undermining canadian security. They also assessed the potential security threats and economic opportunities that accompany the possibility of an icefree arctic. Securing canadian sovereignty in the arctic georgetown. Constructing arctic sovereignty brunel university research archive. The issue of arctic sovereignty in 1925, canada amended its northwest territories act to require all foreign scientists and. International law in crisis by case western reserve journal of international law.
Governing the north american arctic sovereignty, security. There are actually two very different issues regarding arctic sovereignty for canada at the. The changing arctic is a topic of increasing interest to the maritime security community. Petersen competing images of the eastwest strategic environment. Read canadian arctic sovereignty and security in a. 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. Documents on canadian arctic sovereignty and security.
The more immediate impact of climate change on the arctic security situation will be on freedom of navigation and overflight in the region. Canada filed its arctic continental shelf submission with the u. Media, security and sovereignty in the canadian arctic. Updating our ideas alternative definitions of sovereignty and security are emerging in the postcold war period. Canada falling short on arctic sovereignty geopolitical monitor. Canadas recent continental shelf submission under the united nations convention on the law of the sea is good for inuit, says the canadian wing of the inuit circumpolar council. Deterrence of russian influences in the arctic ocean. Rapidly receding sea ice and increasingly navigable waters combined with the promise of rich natural resource deposits have made investment in the arctic particularly military and infrastructure investment a priority for arctic nations and other parties that stand to benefit from the region. Berry, dawn alexandrea, bowles, nigel, jones, halbert eds. The second topic, cybersecurity and sovereignty of cyberspace.
In rapidlychanging arctic societies, security can no longer be exclusively about military threats, and sovereignty cannot fixate solely on the. Canada must be prepared to deal with challenges to its arctic sovereignty and security now, in a concise and effective manner. According to huebert, the harper government was heavily focused on canadas arctic sovereignty, but played. The arctic region the barents, beaufort, and chukchi seas, and the arctic ocean 1 is the emerging maritime frontier, vital to our national interests, economy, and security. With this in mind, more than 40 researchers and analysts from across canada. If canada enjoyed undisputed sovereignty over the northwest passage, it could legally exclude the ships and strengthen continental defense. Canadas northern strategy under prime minister stephen harper. On july 29, 2015, the wilson centers polar initiative, canada institute, and environmental change and security program hosted a program on human security and development in the arctic. The arctic also represents tremendous potential for canadas future. Beaufort sea, and struggles over the continental shelf boundaries are given. Canada, sovereignty, and the arctic extended continental shelf elizabeth riddelldixon. A talk by elizabeth riddell dixon on canadas sovereignty over its arctic extended continental shelf on 24 nov 2017 at 1 pm at ssc 6210. International law regulates this area as with other portions of the earth. The arctic is defined as the region of land and sea area north of the arctic circle, latitude at or about 66.
Canadian arctic sovereignty and security in a transforming. Arctic sovereignty and security in a climatechanging world iisd. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. The authors argue that confining our understandings of arctic governance to arctic states and a focus on the arctic council as th. A ship carry ing oil from europe to asia has to travel roughly,000. New security network in the works as world powers turn north. Young strategic interests in the arctic ocean michael mccgwire soviet military objectives in the arctic theatre and how they might be obtained charles c. Canada, norway, russia, denmark via greenland, iceland, sweden, finland and the united states. Canada marks major milestone in defining its continental.