Arctic Policy of the United States: An Historical Survey (original) (raw)
2019, The Palgrave Handbook of Arctic Policy and Politics
Of the eight Arctic nations, the United States has been notably slow to develop clear and coherent policies for the region, both domestic and international. Perhaps because Alaska is not contiguous with the other states of the federal union, and the great majority of the country's citizens lack any Arctic experience or exposure, Alaska's Arctic has been rather out of sight and out of mind for American policy makers. But, new developments have prompted new attention to the region. Recently, global climate change has affected the Alaskan Arctic dramatically. Fierce storms caused by warmer weather cycles have eroded shoreland on which Inuit villages are located, which has generated the challenge of moving the villages. Shrinking annual polar ice has opened new access to the Northwest Passage. At the same time, reduced ice coverage of the sea has diminished hunting habitat for polar bears and haul-out environments for walrus, leading ecologists to ponder the future of these species. Melting permafrost has brought instability to some areas of the built environment, and has begun to release unprecedented levels of methane into the atmosphere. Having to confront these developments, American policy makers have directed new attention to the Arctic. Shifting decisions on offshore oil and gas exploration and production, together with the pending sale of leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge reflect new considerations in national energy policy. At the same time, growing awareness of Russian and other countries' interest in Arctic sovereignty and in pursuing new opportunities for economic development have raised significant questions regarding national security. These changed conditions have encouraged new consideration of the nation's Arctic policy and the need for greater administrative attention.
Loading Preview
Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.