The challenge of governance in the arctic: Now and in the future

Abstract

Over the past several years, the Arctic has emerged as a region of growing concern to the international community as a result of the impacts of climate change and globalization in this once remote area. Increasing numbers of scholars and residents of the region believe that some framework for governance in the Arctic is now required to address these and other pressing challenges. This is not, however, an easy undertaking. The process of governance is a multifaceted effort. The Arctic Council, established in 1996, has functioned until now as the primary body for addressing regional concerns and formulating efforts at collective action. This article examines the multiple questions posed by any undertaking of governance in the Arctic. It reviews the ways in which the Arctic Council has sought to respond to each of these over the past 18 years and provides an assessment of its undertakings. The article also considers what should be the guiding principles around which all future governance efforts should be crafted and discusses how such an initiative is central to the future evolution of the region.