Event

NUPI also hosts two other events during Arctic Frontiers, Private actors and ocean governance: the Arctic and beyond and Arctic Governance: co-operation and power tactics!

The global political order is changing. Powerful actors are promoting their interests and involvement in Arctic politics and economic development. For a long time, the Arctic has stood out as a region of peace, stability and dialogue. As the world seems to drift towards increased confrontation, nationalism and protectionism, some observers worry that these trends might spill over on relations in the Arctic. Do such worries create the need for an international fora where security issues in the Arctic can be discussed?

See more information here.

The strategic value of the Arctic remains high, as the region has become an integral part of global affairs. The Arctic Council has proven instrumental in finding common solutions to regional challenges. In the Arctic, countries from three different continents have found ways of working together based on common interests and respect for international law. Arctic Council and other arctic fora provide rare examples of East-West cooperation in tumultuous times. At the same time, the Norwegian Arctic is NATO's northern flank. In a time of sharpened dialogue between Russia and the West, can the peaceful and lawful collaboration in the Arctic be shielded from a cooling of international relations elsewhere? How does power matter in shaping cooperation and diplomacy in the Arctic? How can soft diplomacy help build trust and maintain stability in the Arctic?

PROGRAMME:

09.00	Welcome and introduction
	Elisabeth Bauer, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung. Director for Baltic states and the Nordic countries
	Njord Wegge, PhD. Senior Research Fellow, NUPI
	Ole Øvretveit, Director, Arctic Frontiers
09.15	Section 1: The Arctic and East-West security: The historical record meets present challenges
	Stian Bones, Professor Modern History, UiT
	Dmitry Tulupov, St. Petersburg State University
	Jakub Gozimirski, NUPI
	Moderator: Kate Hansen Bundt, Secretary General, Norwegian Atlantic Committee
10.30	Break
10.45	Section 2: Natural science cooperation in the Arctic, a venue for East-West trust building?
	Jørgen Berge, Professor Marin Biology, UiT
	Frej Sorento Dichmann, Danish ministry of Education and research
	Christoph Humrich, University of Groningen
	Moderator: Rasmus Bertelsen, Professor Political Science, UiT
12.00	Lunch
13.00	Section 3: Keeping the Arctic peaceful in a world of great power rivalry. The need for prudent diplomacy, cooperation and good institutions
	Representative from Norwegian MFA (TBC)
	US representative (TBC)
	Alexander Serguin
	Timo Koivurova, Professor Law, Rovaniemi
	Moderator: Matthias Dornfeldt
14.15	Break
14.30	Section 4: Closing statement with reflections on today’s panels and discussions
	Representative from Mike Sfraga, Wilson Center
	Caroline de Camaret, Europe editor, France 24
	Oran Young, Professor University of Calefornia, Santa Barbara (TBC)
	Moderator: Njord Wegge

Organised by Arctic Frontiers, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung and the Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI).

For more information about this side event contact Maria Varteressian, Manager, Arctic Frontiers Arena, maria@arcticfrontiers.com