Reemergence of the Arctic as a Strategic Location

<p>This monograph analyzes the Arctic region as a system by examining the strengths and weaknesses of its political military economic social infrastructure and information sub-systems. This investigation reveals the key nodes (critical people and things) and key linkages (critical relationships between the nodes). Key nodes include the ice itself as well as three of the Arctic states (The Russian Federation The United States of America and Canada) the European Union (EU) multi-national oil and gas corporations supra-national non-governmental organizations indigenous groups the World Trade Organization the internet and trade among the Arctic states. Key linkages include the Arctic Council the Barents Euro-Arctic Council the Nordic Council the EU's Northern Dimension the indigenous groups'; councils and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) treaty. This investigation also reveals the system's potential. At this time it could travel in one of two directions either becoming an area of conflict as the quest for resources drives states to clash or becoming an area of cooperation with states securing their national interests within UNCLOS while sharing information on common topics. With the knowledge gained from examining the Arctic region as a system and ascertaining the key nodes and linkages as well as system potential the researcher examines what this means for the United States. Using an all-of-government approach the monograph discusses the strength weaknesses opportunities and threats for U.S. instruments of national power. From this discussion the monograph author then makes recommendations within those instruments concluding that it is critical for the U.S. to develop the vision objectives and policies prior to 2012 when a majority of the Arctic coastal states must have submitted their UNCLOS claims.</p><p>This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore you will see the original copyright references library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world) and other notations in the work.</p><p>This work is in the public domain in the United States of America and possibly other nations. Within the United States you may freely copy and distribute this work as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.</p><p>As a reproduction of a historical artifact this work may contain missing or blurred pages poor pictures errant marks etc. Scholars believe and we concur that this work is important enough to be preserved reproduced and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.</p>