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Governance for Sustainable Development in the Arctic Region. Policy Coherence or Arctic Paradox?

Söderpalm, Linn LU (2023) SIMZ31 20231
Graduate School
Abstract
The Arctic faces massive challenges, and scholars estimate that parts of the Arctic are warming six times faster than the global mean. Consequently, the regions’ valuable resources are becoming more accessible due to climate change. These resources are argued as necessary for meeting global sustainable development challenges. Many scholars are additionally concerned that economic policy goals are more empathised than environmental goals in the sustainable development of the Arctic. This thesis explores and ultimately understands possible tensions between sustainable development goals in the Arctic region. It does so through a political understanding of policy coherence, which considers how environmental-, economic-, and social- policy... (More)
The Arctic faces massive challenges, and scholars estimate that parts of the Arctic are warming six times faster than the global mean. Consequently, the regions’ valuable resources are becoming more accessible due to climate change. These resources are argued as necessary for meeting global sustainable development challenges. Many scholars are additionally concerned that economic policy goals are more empathised than environmental goals in the sustainable development of the Arctic. This thesis explores and ultimately understands possible tensions between sustainable development goals in the Arctic region. It does so through a political understanding of policy coherence, which considers how environmental-, economic-, and social- policy goals should be treated equally important and coherently. The thesis frames the Arctic as a critical case of regional governance. It thus recognises the Arctic region's multilevel governance nature. By looking at three core organisations governing the Arctic, the Arctic Council, Barents Cooperation, and the Nordic Council of Ministers, the thesis finds the overall comprehensive pattern of policy (in)coherence between the three dimensions of sustainability. The thesis furthermore supports the hypothesis of the Arctic Development Paradox, a normative trap in which policymakers are stuck between priorities of either social-, economic-, or environmental policy goals. Different ideologies of sustainable development shape the Arctic policy agenda, which is based on incompatible interests between Arctic communities and states. (Less)
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author
Söderpalm, Linn LU
supervisor
organization
course
SIMZ31 20231
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Arctic Region, Policy Coherence, Sustainable Development, Arctic Development Paradox, Multilevel Governance
language
English
id
9121534
date added to LUP
2023-06-21 14:26:17
date last changed
2023-06-21 14:26:17
@misc{9121534,
  abstract     = {{The Arctic faces massive challenges, and scholars estimate that parts of the Arctic are warming six times faster than the global mean. Consequently, the regions’ valuable resources are becoming more accessible due to climate change. These resources are argued as necessary for meeting global sustainable development challenges. Many scholars are additionally concerned that economic policy goals are more empathised than environmental goals in the sustainable development of the Arctic. This thesis explores and ultimately understands possible tensions between sustainable development goals in the Arctic region. It does so through a political understanding of policy coherence, which considers how environmental-, economic-, and social- policy goals should be treated equally important and coherently. The thesis frames the Arctic as a critical case of regional governance. It thus recognises the Arctic region's multilevel governance nature. By looking at three core organisations governing the Arctic, the Arctic Council, Barents Cooperation, and the Nordic Council of Ministers, the thesis finds the overall comprehensive pattern of policy (in)coherence between the three dimensions of sustainability. The thesis furthermore supports the hypothesis of the Arctic Development Paradox, a normative trap in which policymakers are stuck between priorities of either social-, economic-, or environmental policy goals. Different ideologies of sustainable development shape the Arctic policy agenda, which is based on incompatible interests between Arctic communities and states.}},
  author       = {{Söderpalm, Linn}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Governance for Sustainable Development in the Arctic Region. Policy Coherence or Arctic Paradox?}},
  year         = {{2023}},
}