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Overview
Long recognized by naturalists and adventurers as a dramatically unique region, the Arctic has recently emerged as an area of increasing political, strategic, and economic importance. The Arctic is both one of the world's largest and smallest regions, encompassing 15% of the earth's land mass, yet inhabited by fewer than 1% of the world's population. Its physical vastness is coupled with a wealth of natural resources; in oil alone, the Far North contributes that majority of Russia's production and 25% of US output. At the same time, the Circumpolar North is home to diverse indigenous peoples and cultures, thus setting the stage for conflicts of international scope.In this collection of essays, Oran Young provides a foundation for studying the politics of the Arctic as a distinctive international region. Expanding the traditional approach to area studies, he examines the Far North not only for its unique features, but also as an arena within which to develop new approaches to various issues of worldwide interest. Young challenges persistent stereotypes that marginalize the region, moving beyond the romanticism of many observers to arrive at an understanding of the complex social and ecological systems of the Far North. In doing so, Young thoughtfully establishes the Arctic as an area of international importance both in its own right and in relation to other geopolitical regions.
Synopsis
Thoughtful essays establishing the Arctic as a distinctive region of international political, socioeconomic, and environmental importance.
Library Journal
In this new entry in the University Press of New England's ``Arctic Visions'' series, Young, co-editor of the series and director of the Institute of Arctic Studies at Dartmouth College, discusses the international political, economic, and environmental issues affecting the Arctic, or Circumpolar North. While his research has focused on Alaska, he does well in including the Arctic Eight (the United States, Canada, Denmark/Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia). His section on Community Studies covers native interests and interactions and is important for understanding the Regional Studies section, which focuses on national concerns with chapters on animal rights, oil, and shipping. In the International Studies section, Young covers broad interests in the military, the environment, development, and effects on the Arctic from outside. Young argues well for considering the Far North to be of world interest. Important for area studies in research and academic libraries.-- Jean E. Crampon, Hancock Biology & Oceanography Lib., Univ. of Southern California, Los Angeles