Master in Political science Beate Steinveg will publically defend her thesis for the PhD degree in Humanities and Social Sciences.
Title of the thesis:
"Governance by conference? Actors and agendas in Arctic politics."
You can follow the defence and trial lecture live stream (Mediasite) here.
Trial lecture starts at 10:15 AM the same day
Popular scientific abstract:
The Arctic has become a core priority for the Arctic states, and a desired playing field for non-Arctic actors. The region has since the 1990s been characterized by cooperative institutions forming a complex picture of transnational collaboration, centered around the Arctic Council. Additionally, the surge in interest towards the region, catalyzed by geopolitical changes and impacts of climate change, has been accompanied by an extensive growth in the establishment of conferences on Arctic issues. Yet, no systematic examination exists of the role of conferences within governance systems. This thesis fills that knowledge gap by examining conferences as a new element of the soft-law dimension of Arctic governance – operating in the intersection between sovereign states and formalized cooperative arrangements.
Governance challenges in the Arctic today stems from the fact that the architecture reflects conditions prevailing in the 1990s, when the agenda centered around environmental protection and sustainable development. However, forces of globalization have made the Arctic and the global agenda merge, and introduce an interesting tension to Arctic governance: the economic interests of outsiders clashing with the strategic sovereignty concerns of Arctic states.
In approaching the challenges of managing the growing number of agenda issues and governance arrangements, and balance the interests and activities of newcomers with those of sovereign Arctic rights-holders, I argue for interaction through conferences as a solution. Through an in-depth case study of the two largest arenas for international dialogue in the region: the Arctic Frontiers (Tromsø, Norway) and the Arctic Circle Assembly (Reykjavik, Iceland), and three mechanisms – actors, agenda, and the architecture of the governance system – as points of influence, the thesis concludes on how Arctic governance (the dependent variable) is impacted by conferences (the independent variable).
Firstly, I demonstrate how Arctic issues have developed a global dimension, and that the dynamic and multidimensional platform provided by conferences has contributed to a broader and refocused globalized agenda. Conferences are arenas for actors to communicate their interests and activities to a larger audience, and to attempt to steer priorities and key issues. While not government forums or governing arenas, I establish how conferences blur the line between governance and dialogue.
Secondly, the shift in the Arctic agenda has led to changes in who are perceived – or proclaim themselves – as stakeholders. Outside actors seek to legitimize their presence and argue for their position and contributions in the region. The involvement of non-Arctic states can prove central for diplomatic relations, and balanced social and economic development of the Arctic. From this, I argue that the political implications of economic interests opens a space for conferences. Conferences mirror general developments and power structures within the Arctic governance web, and provide actors an opportunity to exercise influence in a globalized world.
Thirdly, the Arctic governance architecture has grown increasingly complex with the expanding number of entities – necessitating collaborative efforts and synergies. Conferences provide a meeting place for people associated with different elements of the architecture. They function as alternatives and supplements to the Arctic Council – in expanding the agenda, broadening stakeholder involvement, and improving communication and outreach – but are also complementing arenas, fulfilling different functions within the Arctic regime complex.
The thesis is published and available in Munin.
Supervisors:
Evaluation committee:
Leader of the public defence:
Head of department Anne Britt Flemmen, Department of Social Sciences
If you have any questions for the candidate during the public defence "Opposition ex auditorio", please send an e-mail to the leader of the public defence. (anne.britt.flemmen@uit.no)