In this course, we will primarily be addressing issues, opportunities, and the future development of the Arctic in the 21st century. This is a region which is increasingly important for three primary reasons. Firstly, it is at the epicentre of a physical state change in the earth. Secondly, it is of supreme strategic importance as a key location for both US and Russian strategic nuclear activities, and as a huge natural resource arena. Thirdly, as the location of a potential new global maritime trade route across Eurasia, the Northern Sea Route. Additionally, it is a working laboratory for contemporary international relations (IR) where established IR theories, practices, and strategies are all being challenged, altered, and sometimes even dismantled.
Concurrently, external advances in dual-use technologies for both economic and geostrategic applications in the Arctic and Space above it, the rise of a global service economy, China’s entry onto the world stage, and the altering nature of US leadership and politics, coupled with Russian assertiveness, have unsurprisingly converged in both the European and Asian Arctic, and to some extent, in Antarctica too. We will be considering why this is so, what is driving these changes in the status of the poles, how change is being orchestrated, and who will benefit from potential alterations in governance, security, economic exploitation, and human development in the region(s).
There are no pre-requisites for this seminar. It is helpful if you have an interest in the international political economy, and you are intrigued by high-level international affairs between the superpowers and understanding how technology is applied across vast remote regions of the world under conditions that demand sustainable development and environmental protection.
Learning outcomes
The learning outcomes for this course are:
- An understanding of the contemporary International Relations of the Polar regions
- An insight into the opportunities and threats to the Polar regions, its economies, and peoples.
- An increased awareness of how global environmental, and external political, and economic /technology changes and drivers are impacting Arctic and Antarctic life today.
Classes
1. The issues and opportunities emerging in the Polar regions in the 21st century
2. Governance of the Poles: the Arctic Council and the Antarctic Treaty
3. The unfolding role and shaping of International Relations in the Arctic
4. Strategic aspects of the Poles of interests to host, external countries, and Superpowers
5. Technology, geo-economics, and a New World Order in the Eurasian Arctic 6. Geopolitics and its application to historical and contemporary existence in the Poles
Required reading:
Brady, A M, 2017. China as a polar great power. Cambridge University Press.
Fallon, T book review of Bobo Lo, (editor), 2017. Axis of Convenience: Moscow, Beijing and the New Geopolitics. Brookings Institution, see: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11366-010-9137-8
A regular familiarisation with articles in both the Independent Barents Observer (https://thebarentsobserver.com/en) and Arctic Today (www.arctictoday.com/) websites will give students a solid, generalist, overview of much of the subject matter discussed during the seminar.
Typical week: Monday to Friday
For each week of study you select a morning (Am) and an afternoon (Pm) course, each course has five sessions, one each day Monday to Friday. The maximum class size is 25 students. Your weekly courses are complemented by a series of two daily plenary lectures, exploring new ideas in a wide range of disciplines. To add to the learning experience, we are also planning additional evening talks and events.
| c.8.00am-9.00am |
Breakfast in College (for residents) |
| 9.00am-10.30am |
Am Course |
| 11.15am-12.30pm |
Plenary Lecture |
| 12.30pm-1.45pm |
Lunch |
| 1.45pm-3.15pm |
Pm Course |
| 4.00pm-5.15pm |
Plenary Lecture |
| c.6.00/6.15pm-7.15/7.30pm |
Dinner in College (for residents) |
| c.7.30pm onwards |
Evening talk/event |
Evaluation and Academic Credit
If you are seeking to enhance your own study experience, or earn academic credit from your Cambridge Summer Programme studies at your home institution, you can submit written work for assessment for one or more of your courses.
Essay questions are set and assessed against the University of Cambridge standard by your Course Director, a list of essay questions can be found in the Course Materials. Essays are submitted two weeks after the end of each course, so those studying for multiple weeks need to plan their time accordingly. There is an evaluation fee of £65 per essay.
For more information about writing essays see Evaluation and Academic Credit.
Certificate of attendance
A certificate of attendance will be sent to you electronically within a week of your courses finishing.
