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Arctic Yearbook 2013
Regionalism and Globalisation
The common security challenges inherent in Buzan‘s security complex and ways to approach them
require consideration of all states belonging to the region in question, and thus function as both a
uniting and a limiting factor on states decision-making behaviour. Similar to Keohane and Nye‘s
state of interdependence, the definition of security complex phenomenon does not describe the
nature of relations among its members, and can apply to both the state of conflict as well as the
state of cooperation [to put it in Buzan‘s own words, ―patterns of amity and enmity that are
substantially confined within some particular geographical area‖ (Buzan, 1983: 7)].
Thus, in respect to the Arctic the concept of security environment can be applied, using the
theoretical premises summarised above: the actors in the region are not limited to the local nation-
states and institutions; there are also transnational organisations (e.g., leading oil companies like
Royal Dutch Shell, Total, and ExxonMobil) and other entities (e.g., non-Arctic countries and
companies) with interests at stake. Buzan‘s security complex definition can be employed partially, in
regard to the littoral states and the Arctic Eight positions. The third actors will most likely be
assigned a ―friend or foe‖ label as they exist outside the Arctic area and constitute a challenging
variable within the regional security equation. Buzan‘s five interconnected security sectors also apply,
whereas the potential sources of threats are summarised by the following table (Table 3).
Arctic States
Non-Arctic States
Military
Challenges to SAR activities, navigation and
communication systems
(no direct threat)
Political
Dilution of power caused by inclusion of third
parties in the decision-making process
Non-inclusion in the decision-making
process
Societal
Potential increase in criminal activity (drug and
human trafficking, illegal entry and immigration)
(no direct threat)
Economic
Potential loss of economic opportunities due to
greater participation by third parties
Exclusion from the Arctic natural
resource exploration activities, limitations
to the use of trans-Arctic shipping routes
Environmental
Problems caused by global warming (see Non-
Arctic States), various types of pollution caused
by intensifying human activity
Problems caused by global warming:
climate change, food and water scarcity,
sea level rise
Table 3: Security sectors and challenges related to the Arctic
Regionalism and Globalisation in the Arctic
The shift in theoretical paradigms, used to understand both regionalism and security, conveys the
general IR trend of evolution from realist to constructivist and neoliberal perspectives. The
development of New Regionalism theory that is based on the assumptions of the world‘s
multipolarity, open approach and voluntary initiative, multidimensional organisations, and global
system actors (as opposed to Old Regionalism‘s bipolarity, protectionist attitude and forced actions,
single-purpose organisations, and nation-states as actors) is symmetrical to that of security theory,