Cooperation, Conflict, and Canadian Identity in the Interpretation of the Arctic Region
Crossroads, Vol. 8, p. 93, 2008
17 Pages Posted: 4 Sep 2008 Last revised: 24 Dec 2008
Date Written: August 17, 2008
Abstract
The Arctic - the undiscovered, expanse, at the top of the world. In a world that has seen unprecedented change and development, the Arctic is still an undiscovered, underappreciated, and understudied realm. This region has become an increasingly important area as Russia and Canada, struggle for control over the frozen mass that sits conveniently on top of the world, while also exploring conceptions of national identity. This paper will discuss what control of the region means in a geopolitical sense and how it plays into Canada's sense of identity, balanced against Russian designs on the region which also concern a sense of national identity. Historical, military, environmental, and cultural forces are all at play, but this article will delve into an analysis of national identity politics, developing connections between the Arctic and Canada that warrant increased Canadian awareness of the Arctic's geopolitical significance. The article's hypothesis is that control of the Arctic is an important cultural representation of power, and that Canada's cultural identity is intertwined with the region to such an extent that Canada must exert strong influence in the area in order to promote its sovereignty and to encourage the appreciation of Canadian identity and the development of Canada's expanded presence in the international arena.
Keywords: Canada, Canadian North, North Pole, Russia, Canadian identity, Arctic, geopolitics
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