North America's Arctic Borders: A World of Change?

by Heather Nicol (Editor), Andrew Chater (Editor), Karen G. Everett (Contribution by), P. Whitney Lackenbauer (Contribution by), Justin Barnes (Contribution by)

Overview

Although part of a broader circumpolar world, North America’s Arctic and sub-Arctic borders—and the establishment of new boundaries in the wake of significant, and regionally unique, change—are increasingly relevant in the broader, global world.

Indeed, the Arctic reality has been dramatically reshaped by new territorial configurations and comprehensive land claims; increasing flows of international investment and trade focused upon resource industries and hydrocarbon extraction; the growing importance and role of sub-national entities, organizations, and Indigenous governments; shifting geopolitical interests; and existential challenges created by climate change and environmental security.

This book demonstrates how North America’s Arctic borders are being reshaped by globalization even as these borders are adjusting to new internal pressures such as devolution and the rise of sub-national territorial interests.


Published in English.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780776629599
Publisher:	Les Presses de l'Université d'Ottawa/University of Ottawa Press
Publication date:	10/12/2021
Series:	Collection 101
Pages:	100
Product dimensions:	5.00(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.41(d)

About the Author

Andrew Chater is Professor of Humanities (limited term) at Brescia University. He is a Fellow at Polar Research and Policy Initiative. He was the 2019–2020 North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network (NAADSN) Postdoctoral Fellow, and the 2018–2019 Fulbright Visiting Research Chair in Arctic Studies at the Universityof Washington.

Andrew Chater est professeur de sciences humaines (durée limitée) à l’Univeresité Brescia. Il est membre de la Polar Research and Policy Initiative. Il a été chercheur postdoctoral au Arctic Defense and Security Network (NAADSN) en 2019-2020 et titulaire de la Chaire de recherche invitée Fulbright en Études arctiques à l’Universityé de Washington.

Heather Nicol est professeure de géographie à la School of the Environment et directrice de la School for the Study of Canada de l’Universityé Trent. En 2015-2016, Nicol a été titulaire de la Chaire de recherche Fulbright en Études arctiques à l’Universityé de Washington.

Read an Excerpt

“In some ways it is clear that Northern borders in Canada are exceptional. There are issues of climate change and environmental disruptions, geopolitics, international law, colonial legacies, economic development and governance that are unique. All of these influence the way in which borders are both imagined and managed.”

“Today, the tide has turned in terms of the growing political clout of Indigenous organizations. In the North American North, as elsewhere in the circumpolar region, many Indigenous peoples have become actors on a larger stage, and are being remapped onto larger national and international organizations levels of consultation, discussion and action.”

“Canadian and American security agencies seek greater levels of transnational cooperation in the North, precisely because of the cross-border nature of 21st century security threats triggered by large existential threats such as environmental instability related to climate change (Kee 2019, Kee et al. 2019). Climate change, melting ice, and increased shipping and maritime activities have thus contributed to speculation about future tensions and territorial conflict in the North, as well as highlighted the need for assurances of cooperation.”

Table of Contents

Chapter One: Introduction – Heather Nicol and Andy Chater

Chapter Two: The Colonial History of the North American Arctic Borderlands – Heather Nicol and Andy Chater

Chapter Three: Governance of the North American Arctic – Heather Nicol and Andy Chater

Chapter Four: Culture of the Arctic Borderlands – Heather Nicol

Chapter Five: Trade, Economies and Flows – Heather Nicol and Karen Everett

Chapter Six: Sustainability in the Arctic Borderlands – Heather Nicol and Justin Barnes

Chapter Seven: Security –P. Whitney Lackenbauer and Heather Nicol

Chapter Eight: Conclusions – Heather Nicol and Andy Chater

List of Maps

List of Figures

List of Tables