This issue has a «state» focus—more than half of the articles are devoted to discussing state policy in the region and matters of international cooperation. The articles in the third issue are based on presentations given by members of the PORA Expert Council at various events.
The article discusses the implementation experience and prospects for the development of projects in the field of environmental education in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, as well as their role in the process of sustainable development of the region.
The Arctic territories are important for the Russian Federation both from a geopolitical and economic point of view. Meanwhile, in the Russian Arctic zone, it is still necessary to make a strategic choice: to ensure the development of new deposits and transport infrastructure on a rotational basis or by creating settlements with developed socio-economic infrastructure. This choice depends on the position of strategic subjects (actors capable of investing their own resources in municipal development), and on the historical and cultural capital of the territories under consideration. However, the key role in this strategic choice is played by the position of the federal center, which determines how important this territory is for him and whether he is ready to support it.
The article discusses the problems of the Arctic region associated with the determination of the borders of the Arctic states based on the provisions of international treaties and international law. In addition, an analysis of actions related to the development of the Arctic shelf of the Russian territory is carried out, as well as the military-strategic prospects for the presence of the modern Russian Federation in the Arctic are evaluated. In conclusion, the article summarizes the results of scientific analysis and proposes measures that can strengthen the position of the Russian state in the Arctic region.
The volume of changes in the world economy, in the structure of energy consumption and resource use requires a systematic approaches to solving the problems of dynamic and sustainable development in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The article discusses new opportunities and approaches to forming the "image of the future" of the Arctic in changing economic conditions.
The Russian Arctic Strategy through 2035, which started to get an official framing in March 2020 with the adoption of the Foundations of the Russian State Policy in the Arctic, aims at a peaceful win-win cooperation with foreign nations to the benefit of the northerners themselves. However, the international situation in the Arctic has deteriorated increasingly since 2019, mainly due to the U.S. attempts to project its confrontational line versus China and Russia to the region, plus in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which enhanced a generally intensified global struggle for power. Under the circumstances, Russia’s relevant mid-term goals seem to include a completed designing of a holistic Strategy, a creative and successful Chairmanship in the Arctic Council (2021-2023), a profound technological modernization based on national R&D efforts and an increased economic efficiency of the northern development.
The unique experience of international and, at the same time, regional cooperation in the Arctic on the example of two international organizations: The Council of the Barents Euro-Arctic Region (CBEAR) and Arctic Council (AC) shows that in the Arctic region of our planet, continuing the glorious traditions of Arctic convoys, it is possible to achieve high results of socio-ecological and economic development for the benefit of the entire population of the Arctic and its environment. The goal of sustainable development of the Arctic is to ensure a balanced solution to the problems of preserving the natural environment and socio-economic development in the interests of current and future generations through the use of innovative technologies for the rational use of natural resources, ensuring the preservation of traditional lifestyles of indigenous peoples of the North, improving the quality of life and health of the Arctic population, restoring disturbed natural systems, and strengthening Russia's national security in the Arctic.
The article analyzes the prospects for attracting foreign investment in Russian Arctic projects. It is noted that there is an intensification of Russian-Chinese cooperation in the Arctic. However, Chinese companies are becoming more selective and agree to participate in projects only on terms acceptable to them. In the current global economic crisis, which leads to a toughening struggle to attract financial resources for the development of the Arctic, this trend will only intensify. The strengthening of US sanctions adversely affects the development of cooperation with South Korean firms.
The study addresses the development of offshore projects in the Arctic and their impact on the socio- economic development of coastal regions. Considerable attention paid to the analysis of the experience of developing the hydrocarbon resources of the Arctic zone by the leading world oil and gas powers, which makes it possible to identify the most effective socio-economic approaches to the development of hydrocarbon deposits in the public interest and possible prospects for their use in modern Russian conditions. The development of projects on the shelf allows you to load the main industries, while generating significant multiplicative and complex-forming effects that contribute to the sustainable development of coastal areas in the long term.
In our research, we analyzed three key areas of Arctic development from theoretical and practical perspectives. We gave their vision to the development of international relations in the development of the Arctic. From the point of view of the theory of the question, we proposed a new system "Nature-Man-Production", as a three- part basis for the cycle of different levels. On the practical side, we justified the need to assess the natural resources of the Arctic, with a systematic and integrated approach to payments for resources and pollution in the Arctic.
In the Arctic, warming is almost twice as fast as the global average. Without urgent measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the world will continue to feel the effects of a warming Arctic: sea level rise, climate change and precipitation patterns, increased severe weather events, and loss of fish stocks, birds, and marine mammals. Russia is required to take decisive measures to reduce CO2 emissions in the Arctic zone in order to minimize negative climate consequences and preserve biodiversity.
In the process of accelerating technological changes, which coincided with the beginning of reurbanization — a multiple increase in comfortable urban spaces within the boundaries of megacities and metropolitan areas — conditions were created for the emergence of revolutionary forms of urban fabric. New models of spaces carry the potential of both a radical transformation of the metropolis and the creation of a new typology of economical and super-comfortable small settlements, which is more than relevant for the Far North.
Article deals with sociological survey results of two respondents types (foreign labor migrants and host community) within four Russian Arctic regions: Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk Oblast, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, Republic of Karelia. Survey results of foreign labor migrants made it possible to create a foreign labor migrant profile in the Russian Arctic. Survey results of the host community made it possible to calculate both Conflict Index and Tolerance Index in relation to the 4 regions. It turned out that Conflict Index is still quite high at the Republic of Karelia and the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), which is also confirmed by serious outbreaks of ethnic conflicts in August 2006 and March 2019. More calm situation is developing in Chukotka Autonomous Okrug and Murmansk Oblast as evidenced thanks to Tolerance Index. Both empirical study and its theoretical generalization revealed the fact of migrants’ integration in the Arctic as well as what might happen when social climate fluctuates. Foreign labor migrants survey results aroused a great interest within the studied regions, they were sent both to regional authorities and Federal Agency on Inter-ethnic Relations of Russia for the review.
This article discusses questions about the future development of the Arctic:
Is it profitable for Russia to develop this territory? What kind of work do public organizations do?
It also provides a brief overview of political measures to support the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, and considers some issues of ecology, economics and geopolitics. Analysis allows you to understand:
- the global significance, significance and value of the AZRF for Russia,
- measures that can and should be taken to disseminate information contributing to the development of the region.
