Author: Over the Circle

The Arctic Circle conference, at the Harpa Centre in Reykjavík, took place last week after a year in which political views of the region showed signs of becoming more divided while at the same time, evidence of the effects of climate change in the region continued to mount. This included data suggesting that 2019 produced… Continue reading The Arctic Circle 2019: Greenland in the Centre Seat →

While the definition of an Arctic state is a straightforward one in terms of geography, with eight states, (Canada, the Kingdom of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States), having land and sea holdings north of the Arctic Circle, the question of defining an Arctic stakeholder is considerably more hazy, and if… Continue reading By Any Other Name? Defining an Arctic Stakeholder is Becoming More Complex →

After many years of building its Arctic identity through regional initiatives and Track II engagement, such as via the Arctic Circle Conference, the Government of Scotland went all in with its interest in the far north and released its first formal Arctic policy paper last week. The document not only demonstrated the Scottish government of… Continue reading Tuath / Deas: A Scottish Arctic Policy Focuses on Local and Regional Opportunities →

This new book about the evolving dimensions of security in the Arctic brings together some of the leading specialists in and about the region, examining the ideas of 'security' from numerous angles including aspects of state power and military capabilities but also from the viewpoint of indigenous persons as well as various regional, local and… Continue reading Book Announcement: Routledge Handbook of Arctic Security →

Although much recent international focus on, and some American ire about, non-Arctic states in the circumpolar north has focused on China’s emerging Arctic policies, Beijing is hardly alone in seeking an expanded regional presence despite a lack of far-northern geography. In addition to some of China’s neighbours, including Japan, South Korea and Singapore, many European… Continue reading ‘Anfangen ist leicht, Beharren eine Kunst’: Germany’s Deepening Arctic Engagement →