Norway's arctic vector: Continuity and innovation

Abstract

The article examines specifics of Norway's economic strategy in the Arctic as well as the kingdom's policy on its northern territories. It is concluded that Norway implements one of the most innova-tive economic strategies in the region. Norway's policy is distinguished by its reliance on high technology, state regulation of hydrocarbons' extraction, prospective planning, substantial revenue transfers to a state-controlled pension fund, effective environmental protection in the case of offshore production and transporta-tion of energy resources. At the same time, Oslo aims to reduce its dependence on the export of hydrocarbons and develop other, mostly high tech, sectors of its economy. As far as Norway's policy towards its northern units is concerned, it aspires to transform them from backward, depressive territories into dynamic and attrac-tive for investors and common people regions which could become "points of growth". This strategy includes the development of the regional economy's productive sector, transport infrastructure (first and foremost the port one), research and educational complexes, Arctic tourism and recreational business as well as flexible migration policy to attract labor force to these regions' economy and support for the indigenous peoples (Sami). Oslo's course on priority development of the country's northern territories creates solid premises for enhancing their cooperation with Russia's neighboring regions because such cooperation may be one more (external) resource for increasing their well-being. In turn, cross- and trans-border cooperation between Nor-wegian and Russian northern regions can be helpful for improving relations between our countries even in the context of current tensions at the intergovernmental level.