This bachelorthesis examines the Arctic strategies of Russia, China and the USA. The three subjects of this study- China, Russia, and the United States have different degrees of 'material' interest in the Arctic, which is rooted in tangible assets like oil, gas, and ice- free shipping routes. Among them, China is a relatively recent participant in Arctic affairs, whereas Russia and the United States hold prominent positions as influential players in the High North. Over 60% of the Arctic landmass lies within their national borders.
While some of these interests can be quantified, they also involve intricate and qualitative questions related to identity and the perception of other actors. Though, one thing connects all three states: All have updated or published their first national Arctic strategy in the last 5 years detailing their Arctic ambitions for the future. This indicates that the changing Arctic is responsible for a changed perception of the Arctic region, which is worth exploring. The exploration of this assumption through a qualitative content analysis provides useful insights, allowing me to understand better how these states perceive the Arctic as a geographical space, themselves and other actors. This, in turn, creates a more meaningful picture of the Arctic political discourse, shedding light on the perception each country creates about itself, which may help us to understand why countries behave the way they do and even possibly predict how they might behave in the future.
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
2.2.3 Othering
A fundamental method through which Identity construction is achieved is Othering, a theoretical concept rooted in post-colonial theory, first systematically applied by Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak in 1985. As the political theorist William Connolly has noted: “An Identity is established in relation to a series of differences that have become socially recognized. These differences are essential to its being. If they did not coexist as differences, it would not exist in its distinctness and solidity. Entrenched in this indispensable relation is a second set of tendencies, themselves in need of exploration, to conceal established identities into fixed forms, thought and lived as if their structure expressed the true order of things. When these pressures prevail, the maintenance of one Identity (or field of identities) involves the conversion of some differences into otherness, into evil, or one of its numerous surrogates. Identity requires differences in order to be, and it converts difference into otherness in order to secure its own self-certainty.” (Connolly 2002: 64)
Othering is based on a binary conceptualisation of the dominant Self and the subordinate Other by the powerful, defining group. Othering discursively constructs the Self’s Identity as what the Other, from whom the Self wants to differentiate, is not. The Other is thereby constructed as inferior to affirm the legitimacy of the Self’s claim to power and their superiority and to control Identity formation among the Other (Spivak 1985: 252-257; Jensen 2011: 64-65). A good example of Othering in the Arctic is the perception of non-Arctic states as threatening intruders on Arctic state’s sovereign territories.
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.
- Citation du texte
- Fiona Kramer (Auteur), 2023, Geopolitics of a Changing Arctic. How do Russia, China and the United States Conceptualise the Changing Arctic?, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1510426
