An Introduction

Abstract

Over the course of the past two decades, the Arctic has evolved from being a rather remote region in international affairs to becoming an increasingly central concern of the global community. Today, the issues of climate change, access to additional energy resources, the development of new global trade routes, the protection of the natural environment, and the preservation of indigenous cultures have all come to be highlighted within this formerly neglected region. For the first time in many years, the Arctic is “hot” (Borgerson 2013). Its new status requires us to think carefully about how the pressing concerns of this “newly discovered” area of the world can be best addressed so as to ensure that the needs and aspirations of the peoples of the Arctic, as well as those of the larger global society, are dealt with in an effective manner. There is an urgent need to develop a broader consensus among both communities regarding how a responsive and sustainable Arctic governance framework should operate and function.