Simone Minana

Topic

Arctic Politics in a Time of Change: A Study on the Impact of Deteriorating Relations on the Indigenous Peoples’ Inclusion in Arctic Decision-Making Processes

Department of Political Science

Date & location

• Thursday, April 11, 2024

• 10:00 A.M.

• Clearihue Building, Room B007

•  And Virtual

Reviewers

Supervisory Committee

• Dr. Will Greaves, Department of Political Science, University of Victoria (Supervisor)

• Dr. Tatiana Degai, Department of Anthropology, UVic (Outside Member) 

External Examiner

• Dr. Jeff Ganohalidoh Corntassel, Indigenous Studies, University of Washington 

Chair of Oral Examination

• Dr. Sean Chester, Department of Computer Science, UVic 

Abstract

This thesis examines how the deterioration of Arctic politics since 2007, led by a changed geopolitical perception of the Arctic region and worsened relations between Russia and the West, has impacted the Indigenous Permanent Participants’ abilities to advance their own interests in Arctic governance. Through a textual analysis of research on Arctic politics and security, a discourse analysis of the Saami Council and the Inuit Circumpolar Council’s response to the Arctic Council’s suspension in 2022, and analysis of the Arctic Council’s structure and an examination of the Russian-West relations between 2007-2022, I argue that the deterioration in Arctic politics affects the Permanent Participants’ abilities to advance their interests in Arctic governance in two ways. First, it has increased state centric decision-making in the Arctic Council, which largely leaves out the Permanent Participants from the Council’s decision-making processes. Second, it has increased the workload in the Council, which has heightened the Permanent Participants’ demand for funding in order to participate. I conclude that continued deterioration in Arctic relations will negatively affect Arctic Indigenous peoples, as they continue to remain constrained within their national contexts and other international institutions in regard to advancing their own priorities. Through the theoretical lens of securitization and ‘acts of indigeneity’, this study contributes to the understanding of how the Arctic Indigenous peoples strategically aim to situate themselves as political beings in the Arctic decision-making processes in response to the current deterioration in Arctic politics.