Cooperative Role of the Arctic Council as an Example of Regime Formation

Book excerpt: It is a fact that the climate is changing globally. As a remote, harsh part of the world, climate of the Arctic is changing as well. The Arctic ice is melting at an astonishing rate. Thus, the region is getting more accessible. Even the Arctic sea routes are ice-free nearly for five months a year right now, this period will probably last longer in the coming years. Moreover, hydrocarbon explorations in the region will increase the expectations regarding an ice-free Arctic since the economic potential of the region is rising to the surface. Under these circumstances, the Arctic has recently been witnessing both challenges and opportunities. The latter includes the exploitation of hydrocarbons and utilization accessible maritime routes - both of which are opportunities gathering less attention- whereas conflicting issues regarding sovereignty and national security are regularly thematized by politicians and media. Here, the point is that, whereas challenges are being underlined, the opportunities are being ignored. Put differently, while politicians and the media address issues pertaining to the regional policies - especially conflicting ones and ecology of the region- on the other hand economic potential of the region triggered by the ice-melting is paid no mind. With this in mind, as one of the most significant institutions in the region, the Arctic Council aims to manage the issues in question. Thus, this book aims to provide enlightenment on the Arctic states’ predominant intent to utilize opportunities under the auspices of the Arctic Council via neoliberal policies. The book indicates that the Arctic Council -as an example of regime formation- could be best understood via neoliberal perspective of regime theory since its members plan to further economic development of the region as a common priority.