GEOPOLITICS OF THE HIGH NORTH - THE RACE FOR THE ARCTIC
GEOPOLITICS OF THE HIGH NORTH - THE RACE FOR THE ARCTIC

Summary/Abstract: This paper’s main purpose is to develop a critical approach on one of the latest power disputes, the race for the Arctic, a region in which appear aspects related to classical realism, proving once again that national states are rational entities. They are able to choose to cooperate, but only when it is in accordance with their national interests. Thus, states remained locked in realism’s views. Opposed to this fact stays the concept of security, that has evolved since the end of the Cold War, assuming five new dimensions1 , each of them being able to stay at the basis of the changes of the balance of power. Following the recent discoveries, it was proved that the High North has in its underground huge volumes of natural resources such as: gas, oil and non-energy resources. Because of these issues, the Arctic has become a clash region between five different states: the Russian Federation, United States of America, Canada, Denmark and Norway. Each of these states has its own national set of interests that are unilaterally developed. This fact generates a state of insecurity felt worldwide, because these interests are rarely common. The Arctic has the ability to change the international statu-quo, at least economically speaking, this being the reason for which states choose to race for it, but this is a race that proves to be a zero sum game. The region has become more important for the balance of power maintenance once the parties chose to develop here their military capabilities, fact that increases the possibilities of escalating to an armed conflict.

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