May 2011

Sovereignty Matters: States, Security and Climate Change in the Arctic

Inuit and the Government of Canada assign significantly different attributes to construct the defining qualities of Arctic sovereignty. While Government references the tools of security such as boarder defense, Inuit view sovereignty as a fluid concept in which internal and external sovereignties co-exist – a place of inclusion, compromise and harmony. An analysis of these conflicting views of sovereignty provides a backdrop to the relocation of authority. Given that climate change defies borders this research suggests that Arctic states may benefit by adopting a system of co-management toward Arctic governance.

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