The twofold development of the Arctic: where do the Arctic states stand?

The chapter draws a comprehensive picture of a globalized Arctic region in the 2010s by concentrating on the state policies of the Arctic. First, it asks in general where the Arctic states stand, particularly regarding Russia’s state policy in the Russian Arctic Zone, as well as the entire “globalized” Arctic (and if this would mean a slowing down of offshore oil drilling, and thus a change in resource geopolitics in the Arctic). Second, the article briefly discusses the twofold development of the Arctic’s resource geopolitics and security, including the importance of states and national policies, and the fact that a “regionalized” Arctic is at last being considered at the global level. Final, it concludes that the twofold development of the Arctic’s geopolitics has been a powerful trend after the end of the Cold War. That the transformation of the Arctic (from classical to critical geopolitics) speaks on behalf of the efficiency of functional cooperation and emphasizes the high value of political stability, and that the Arctic has significant environmental and other implications worldwide.