Organisation, Actors and Member States’ Interests

Abstract

This chapter outlines the three levels of work in the Council: ministerial level, the senior Arctic official (SAO) level and working group level. It also introduces the reader to the work of Council by outlining key accomplishments by the six working groups and provides an overview on the role of the observers and the permanent participants (indigenous groups). The chapter also discusses the attitude of the member states to Arctic developments and the Arctic Council and argues that the Arctic Council has created an arena and network of different players (observers, indigenous groups and scientists) that the member states cannot ignore when the future of the Arctic is discussed.