Geopolitics of a Changing Arctic. How do Russia, China and the United States Conceptualise the Changing Arctic?

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Geopolitics

2.1 From classical to critical Geopolitics

2.2 Categories of Geopolitics

2.2.1 Space

2.2.2 Identity

2.2.3 Othering

2.3 Geopolitics in the Arctic

3. Russia, China and the United States- A Brief Overview

4. Conceptualizing the changing Arctic

4.1 Climate Change in the Arctic

4.2 The impact of the changing Arctic on Space

4.3 The impact of the changing Arctic on Arctic Identity

4.4. The impact of the changing Arctic on Othering

5. Method

5.1 The construction of Qualitative Content Analysis

6. Discussion

6.1 The added category- Conceptualisation of the Arctic as a Space of cooperation

6.2 China’s conceptualisation of the changing Arctic

6.3 Russia’s conceptualisation of the changing Arctic

6.4 The United States’ conceptualisation of the changing Arctic

6.5 The way forward?

7. Conclusion

Objectives and Core Themes

This research aims to understand how Russia, China, and the United States conceptualise the changing Arctic by examining their respective national Arctic strategies. It explores whether the shifting geographic realities of the region influence these nations to reimagine their own roles, identities, and national interests through the lens of critical geopolitics.

• The influence of climate change on the perception of Arctic territory.
• Construction of national identity and sovereignty in the Far North.
• Geopolitical narratives of "Self" vs. "Other" between major powers.
• Economic and strategic implications of increased Arctic accessibility.
• Qualitative content analysis of official Arctic policy documents.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Presents the research focus on how major powers perceive the transforming Arctic region due to environmental and political changes.

2. Geopolitics: Outlines the shift from classical to critical geopolitics, defining key constructs like Space, Identity, and Othering.

3. Russia, China and the United States- A Brief Overview: Provides context on the interests and positioning of the three core subjects in the High North.

4. Conceptualizing the changing Arctic: Examines physical climate shifts and how they impact perceptions of sovereignty, economics, and security.

5. Method: Details the qualitative content analysis (QCA) approach used to code and interpret national Arctic strategy documents.

6. Discussion: Interprets the coded results, highlighting how China, Russia, and the US construct different narratives of cooperation, rivalry, and internal identity.

7. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, noting that despite different motivations, all states navigate the "Arctic paradox" of balancing economic development with environmental stewardship.

Keywords

Arctic Geopolitics, Critical Geopolitics, Climate Change, National Identity, Othering, Russia, China, United States, Arctic Strategy, Sovereign Space, Qualitative Content Analysis, Power Competition, Environmental Protection, Governance, High North

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental objective of this research paper?

The paper systematically evaluates how Russia, China, and the United States perceive and articulate their interests, identities, and national strategies regarding the rapidly changing Arctic region.

What are the central thematic areas covered in this thesis?

The work investigates the intersection of environmental change, the discursive construction of geographic "space," the formation of national identity, and the process of "Othering" in international relations.

Which theoretical framework underlies this analysis?

The research relies on critical geopolitics, which posits that geography is not an objective fact but a socially constructed concept shaped by political discourse and national narratives.

What primary research methodology is utilized?

The author employs a deductive qualitative content analysis (QCA) of the most recent national Arctic strategy documents from the three studied nations.

What content is addressed in the discussion section?

The discussion interprets the data collected during the coding process, explaining how nations reconcile their desires for economic exploitation with their stated commitments to climate protection and regional governance.

Which specific variables define the coding guidelines?

The study uses variables such as "Space," "Identity," and "Othering," further refined into specific coding categories like "Global Space," "Sovereign Space," "Arctic leader," and "Threatening Arctic Actors."

How does the author characterize Russia’s conceptualisation of the Arctic?

Russia is framed through the lens of a defensive actor emphasizing sovereignty and economic exploitation of the Northern Sea Route to maintain national security and combat readiness.

What unexpected result emerged regarding China’s identity?

The analysis revealed that despite its massive footprint in the region, China avoids strong "Othering" tactics compared to the US and Russia, focusing instead on its role as a "knowledge leader" and global partner in addressing climate change.