Knowledges, resources and legal regimes: the new geopolitics of the Polar Regions
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Geography - SoGE
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Richard Powell (Principal Investigator) | |
| Klaus Dodds (Co-Investigator) |
Publications
Dodds K
(2013)
Polar geopolitics: new researchers on the Polar Regions
in The Polar Journal
Dodds, K
(2013)
The Arctic Policy Framework and Beyond
in RUSI Newsbrief
Powell R
(2010)
Knowledges, resources and legal regimes: the new geopolitics of the polar regions
in Polar Record
Powell, R.C.
(2013)
Subarctic Backyards? Britain, Scotland and the paradoxical politics of the European High North.
in Northern Review
| Description | This grant addresses the impacts of climatic changes in the Polar Regions on the global political landscape. Growing uncertainty about the extent and feasibility of global resources has resulted in increasing attention being placed upon 'difficult' physical environments, such as the Circumpolar North and, even, Antarctica. The northern latitudes have hitherto been viewed as resource hinterlands for North America, Scandinavia, and, of course, Russia. However, recent climatic and political changes have altered this situation, such that new actors have emerged, such as China, the European Union, NGOs and global civil society. Similarly, in the southern latitudes, there has been a resurgence of territorial nationalism by Antarctic claimant-states, such as Argentina, Chile and the United Kingdom. This has put renewed pressure on the Antarctic Treaty System. This grant therefore addresses critical themes for the RCUK Global Uncertainties Programme including the competition for natural resources, energy security, maritime security and the political implications of climate change. The project primarily contributes to the core RCUK Global Uncertainties theme of 'Threats to Infrastructure', with a secondary contribution to the 'Ideologies and Beliefs' core theme. |
| Exploitation Route | The UK faces a series of challenges and opportunities in the Polar Regions. Challenges include budgetary pressures to organizations such as British Antarctic Survey and polar programmes more generally and the growing influence of other actors who challenge certain norms regarding polar governance (e.g. Antarctica and the mineral resource ban. Opportunities include the ability to use the UK's scientific diplomacy ('soft power' in Joseph Nye's terms) to work with a network of actors in the Arctic and Antarctic in generating new knowledge, new funding, new relationships (UK-Malaysia in the Antarctic and UK-Japan in the Arctic) and new visions for the Polar Regions. We ended with two questions - what does the UK want from the Polar Regions? And how and why are the Polar Regions demanding of our attention? |
| Sectors | Creative Economy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Security and Diplomacy |
| URL | http://www.polargeopolitics.co.uk |
| Description | Incorporated into UK policy discussions. Presence of NGOs and coroporate organisations at seminars, growth of consultancy groups |
| First Year Of Impact | 2010 |
| Sector | Aerospace, Defence and Marine,Education,Energy,Environment,Government, Democracy and Justice,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections,Security and Diplomacy |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic |
| Description | Impacts of Polar Geopolitics for UK Policy in the Arctic and Antarctic |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 07/2014 |
| Description | Impacts of Polar Geopolitics for UK Policy in the Arctic and Antarctic |
| Amount | £5,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Economic and Social Research Council |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 04/2013 |
| End | 07/2014 |