Summer 2017

Into the Arctic

No longer blockaded by impenetrable ice, the Arctic of today is a hotspot of environmental, cultural, economic, and geopolitical dynamics. Welcome to the modern, global Arctic – a region experiencing unprecedented change.

in this issue:

Interactive: Languages of the Arctic

– The Wilson Quarterly

The languages of the Arctic – carriers of the culture and identity of the region’s people – are fighting for their survival. In this special interactive project, explore the linguistic diversity and human spirit of the Far North.

Darkness Falls in the Arctic

– Jeremy T. Mathis

Light sea ice has been replaced by dark ocean water. Light snow has given way to dark ground. The Arctic’s changing color palette is a sign of the harrowing changes under way.

Changing Climates for Arctic Security

– Sherri Goodman

Shaped by changing climates – political as well as planetary – our understanding of security in the Arctic has morphed since the Cold War and continues to take on new forms.

Is Russia Going Hard or Soft in the Arctic?

– Alexander Sergunin

In contrast with the internationally widespread stereotype of Russia as a revisionist power in the Arctic, Moscow’s future actions in the region are more likely to be fairly pragmatic in nature.

Participants of the 2007 mission to the floor of the Arctic Ocean when two deep-diving Russian mini-submarines slipped beneath the ice at the North pole and descended more than 2 1/2 miles to the ocean floor on a Russian quest to claim much of the Arctic's oil-and-mineral wealth. AP Photo/Vladimir Chistyakov.

The Arctic Environment in the Age of Man

– Ross A. Virginia

The Arctic is hurtling into the Anthropocene, and caribou, walruses, and even mosquitoes are responding.

An Investment Model for the Arctic

– Tero Vauraste

Increased investment and development in the Arctic is inevitable and it’s already happening. That is a positive – if it is done the right way.

The Challenge of Arctic Governance

– Douglas C. Nord

Governance is challenging in any context, but it becomes even more complex when attempted in an area that, until recently, has had little experience with regional decision-making.

The Arctic Waterway to Russia’s Economic Future

– Lawson W. Brigham

The economic stakes are high and there are several challenges and uncertainties around the bend, as Russia tries to make the most of its northern gateway to global markets.