Cooperation in the Arctic Council and the Regime- Building Process in the High North

Endi Haryo Prabowo Wirawan , Mohtar Masoed

2016 | Skripsi | Ilmu Hubungan Internasional

ABSTRACT The advent of climate change has dramatically changed the Arctic. Relegated along the margins of global affairs for most of its history, the High North now finds itself on the frontline of issues which will challenge and define our world in the coming century. The thawing of the Arctic has opened a Pandora’s box of environmental, socio-economic, political and strategic challenges. With such challenges, come also a great wealth of opportunities for political actors in the region to seize upon. The Arctic Council is the region’s most prominent intergovernmental organisation comprising all eight Arctic states; Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Sweden, Norway, Russia and the United States. It is the salient manifestation of circumpolar collaboration but possess characteristics unique to itself, chiefly its lack of legal authority and status as a “high-level forum”. Despite its limited mandate over environmental and sustainability issues, many see the Council as an enabler to greater regional Arctic cooperation. This thesis intends to examine the state and development of regional cooperation between Arctic states through the Arctic Council and its implications towards the regime-building process in the High North. Through this research, it has found that indeed enhanced circumpolar cooperation over the course of the last decade has resulted in the increasing institutionalisation of rules and the formation of a nascent regime in the Arctic. The Arctic Council, though strictly limited by its mandate, has presided and been largely influential over the promotion of cooperation and interaction amongst the Arctic states. Keywords: Arctic, Arctic Council, Climate Change, Regional Cooperation, Regime

Kata Kunci : Kerjasama Regional