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Arctic Security in an Age of Climate Change

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Arctic Security in an Age of Climate Change doi:10.3723/ut.30.177 International Journal of the Society for Underwater Technology, Vol 30, No 3, pp 177–178, 2012 Arctic Security (despite no land involved in the Arctic security, jurisdiction and prevailing climate of peaceful access is a broad discourse of Book Review in an Age dispute resolution); and most concern to all Arctic states and frightening of all, a ‘new cold includes not only traditional of Climate war’ in the North. Clearly col­ hard security, but softer forms of umn space is up for grabs as security such as multilateral rela­ Change journalistic integrity has been tions and environmental issues. undermined. Equally to blame, The book recognises that Edited by James Kraska however, is the fact that a political and security tensions do substantial amount of academic exist between Arctic states, but it Published by Cambridge analysis has also been on thin ice also informs how they are gener­ University Press in terms of failing to illustrate ally balanced by the rule of law the actual picture across the (in particular the UN Law of the Hardback edition, 2011 region – that is, one of generally Sea) and a mature multilateral ISBN 978 110700 660 7 peaceful development and co­ system based on dialogue and operation across the Arctic region. scientific exchange through the 340 pages; £55 (US$90) As eloquently stated in the first Arctic Council. Finally, the book chapter of the book by Franklyn acknowledges that external Griffiths, ‘this kind of talk is not actors, such as the EU and Asia, to be trusted’. will increasingly be active as eco­ Arctic Security in an Age of Climate Arctic Security in an Age of nomic actors in the Arctic. Change is a timely publication. Climate Change is an articulate, One innovation of the book is The Arctic, over the past decade, flowing and comprehensive com­ that each chapter explores a par­ has experienced somewhat of mentary on the real and complex ticular national or global view­ a renaissance in terms of being a Arctic ‘state of play’, and hence, a point. Several chapters explore global scientific, environmental breath of fresh air into the aca­ differing perspectives of national and political hotspot. The focus demic debate. While it would be approaches (for example Russian has been particularly intense pitched generally at an academic policy in the Arctic from a resource since the ‘perfect storm’ in 2007, audience, its fresh and realistic perspective or a military perspec­ where a record summer sea ice perspective would also benefit tive). In addition, the inclusion of minimum was combined with those with a broader interest in peripheral Arctic rim states such Artur Chilingarov’s Russian mis­ the Arctic. The book focuses on as Iceland makes for interesting sion to place a flag on the sea the notion of security, albeit a discourse on the evolving nature floor 4km beneath the pole. This broad picture where environ­ of Arctic governance. The pic­ was to the obvious delight of sur­ mental and political concerns are ture quickly emerges that the rounding Arctic states, with the as important as ‘hard’ military Arctic is in reality viewed as a Canadian Foreign Minister Peter endeavours. The book iterates on series of in situ regions by the MacKay claiming, ‘This isn’t the several themes that dominate the Artic nations. These regions have 15th Century….You can’t go Arctic discourse. Firstly, climate a complex mix of political, eco­ around the world and just plant change is altering the biophysical nomic, cultural and ecological flags and say “We’re claiming systems of the Arctic and has factors that determine the direc­ this territory.”’ the potential to drive economic, tion of Arctic policy and engage­ For better or worse public and political and social changes in ment. Such factors include the political sentiment has run high Arctic states and communities, emerging resource­based inde­ ever since, and the Arctic has although this process is still not pendence of Greenland from become a mainstay of journal­ well understood. Denmark (Chapter 10); the lib­ istic broadsheet investigations, Another theme addressed in eral and multilateral approach of Time and National Geographic the book is that natural resource Norway (Chapter 5); the mix of magazine covers and television development is occurring within sovereignty and security in the documentaries. Pundits of all the Arctic and is set to expand Canadian Arctic (Chapter 13); shapes and sizes have emerged with a range of consequences, and the national security and eco­ from beneath the ice to proclaim including environmental health nomic development and focus of ‘a race to the pole’; ‘a land grab’ and safety concerns. In addition, Russia (Chapter 7). 177 Potts. Arctic Security in an Age of Climate Change In contrast, as discussed in book explores all the angles and round­up of the issues was Chapters 1, 3, 8 and the conclu­ is an excellent resource for get­ lacking and a view towards the sion, external actors take a very ting familiar with an internal future would have been a more different view of the region. and external perspective. suitable ending to a highly com­ Their perspective is divorced The only downside of the prehensive and timely publica­ from the day­to­day realities of book is the rather strange and tion. life in the North and more sudden ending. The afterword aligned to the opportunity for explores the role of the UK in material wealth and resources terms of Arctic security, but this (Reviewed by Dr Tavis Potts, on one hand and environmental section would be better suited as Scottish Association for preservation on the other. This an individual chapter. An overall Marine Science) 178.
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