Abstract
Since the end of the Cold War, the Barents region has experienced a unique and complex governance model in the Arctic. Remembering that this part of the Arctic has been connected to Europe since the Viking era, it stands as a singular case for the whole Polar region. For centuries, this subarctic region was under the influence of Norwegian–Russian relationships and their dynamics. The institutionalization process since the 1990s has mainly focused on economic, social, and environmental matters. Diversity in stakeholders and institutional multilayers are critical features of regional governance. In the light of the Ukrainian crisis and the annexation of Crimea in 2014, the Barents region endured its most serious test after the Cold War. However, despite a significant increase in military activities, these new geopolitical conditions did not break long-standing cooperation. At a time when economic opportunities are soaring in the region, climate change and biodiversity losses are threatening socio-economic conditions: the Barents area must address extraordinary challenges. From oil and gas projects to tourism development, the Barents region presents itself as a showcase for socio-ecological balance in the Arctic. However, its institutional arrangements are set to face growing tests of its resilience. From a multidisciplinary perspective, this chapter will highlight how regional governance has been shaped over recent decades.
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Notes
- 1.
The Kirkenes declaration was signed by the foreign ministers and other delegates from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the Commission of the European Communities.
- 2.
It includes the following Barents administrative units: Lapland, Oulu Region, Kainuu and North Karelia (Finland); Nordland and Troms og Finnmark (Norway ); Arkhangelsk Region, Murmansk Region, Karelia, Komi and Nenets (Russia ); Norrbotten and Västerbotten (Sweden).
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Vidal, F. (2022). Regional Governance: The Case of the Barents Region. In: Finger, M., Rekvig, G. (eds) Global Arctic. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81253-9_20
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