Arctique

The Arctic Council is often viewed as politically ineffective because of its lack of legal authority. But despite its many limitations it has proven otherwise since its establishment 20 years ago, playing a central role in Arctic norm-setting since the thaw of East-West relations in the 1990s, which has led to deeper cooperation and uninterrupted stability in the Arctic. This week, Arctic Yearbook managing editor Joël Plouffe interviews Camille Escudé, a Ph.D. candidate in international relations at Sciences Po-CERI, France, and author of “The Strength of Flexibility: The Arctic Council in the Arctic Norm-Setting Process.”

Ever since the planting of a Russian flag at the bottom of the Arctic Ocean in August 2007, foreign governments, international relations analysts, and the media have repeatedly described Russia’s activities in the region as hostile and belligerent toward the West. In the interview bellow, Joël Plouffe, co-managing editor of the Arctic Yearbook, discusses the significance of the Russian bomber patrols in terms of Canadian national security and sovereignty with Frédéric Lasserre, professor of geography at the Université Laval in Québec City, Canada.

Quebec’s interest in the North offers a good example of how subnational governments in the Canadian context are expanding their policy agendas to tackle emerging challenges in the region, but also expectantly aiming to capitalize on new global investments for northern ventures.

While the Trudeau government seeks closer relations with Russia on Arctic issues, concrete foreign policy actions in the region are found wanting, write Arctic experts Heather Exner-Pirot and Joël Plouffe.

The Canadian province of Quebec included the Arctic as a top priority in its new international policy this month, but questions remain as to how this renewed focus will benefit northerners back home in the province.

Alors que la Russie a récemment rouvert de nombreuses bases militaires dans l'Arctique, le premier ministre canadien, Justin Trudeau, compte bien marquer la présence du Canada.

Radio Canada - Le projet de liquéfaction gazière gigantesque de la pétrolière française Total, dans le nord de la Russie, appose inévitablement son empreinte écologique dans les environs. État des lieux.

World Policy Blog - Joël Plouffe, co-managing editor of the Arctic Yearbook, discusses the significance of the Russian bomber patrols in terms of Canadian national security and sovereignty with Frédéric Lasserre, professor of geography at the Université Laval in Québec City, Canada.