The spitsbergen treaty multilateral governance in the arctic book

No one, including norway, is allowed to put a military base on the archipelago. Arctic treasures basecamp spitsbergen snowmobile in. A solution to the international dispute over the polar region molly watson i. Wallis d, arnold s eds the spitsbergen treaty multilateral governance in the arctic, pp 720. Arctic expedition to spitsbergen and svalbard archipelago on laustral june 1424, 2019 with lisa randall, frank b. We ask how has the svalbard security regime been able to meet the various challenges it has. A more multidimensional arctic governance complex is emerging and is likely to continue to develop during the coming years. This was formally done with the spitsbergen treaty, which was signed on 09 february 1920 in versailles the term svalbard was not used until later. This guide introduces ecotravelers to a fascinating part of the world, with its intriguing land features and the magical display of northern lights that make it ideal for cruises, wilderness exploration, wildlife watching and extreme sports. It has demanded the arctic treaty, an international treaty aimed to safeguard the arctic in the way the antarctic treaty system protects the interests of the antarctic region. Treaty between norway, the united states of america, denmark, france, italy, japan, the netherlands, great britain and ireland and the british overseas dominions and sweden concerning spitsbergen signed in paris 9th february 1920. Spitsbergen is a demilitarized zone, as the treaty prohibits the establishment of military installations.

The svalbard archipelago, positioned between mainland norway and. The international convention for the regulation of whaling, washington 1946. Enjoy the excitement of snowmobile driving and experience the arctic wildlife like seals, reindeer and polar bear. Aug 19, 2002 however, the main aim of the treaty is to organise the political situation. The treaty concerning spitsbergen of 9 february 1920 declared the arctic archipelago of spitsbergen now called svalbard an overseas part of the kingdom of norway article 1. This 11day itinerary is a bit more indepth than our introduction itinerary, and youll see the best of the spitsbergen archipelago by. Introduction the melting of the polar ice caps in the arctic region has resulted in an international battle over arctic territory and its vast natural resources. It is therefore not surprising that the question of a special arctic treaty has been raised. Geophysical developments in the arctic will challenge and disrupt traditional patterns of arctic governance at the global, regional, bilateral, national, subnational and local levels, a shockwave that carries profound implications for shipping routes, on and offshore resource and economic development, international trade and investment patterns, territorial definitions and disputes. This comment examines the jurisdictional claims made by each of the five arctic states and the support for those claims.

The first major volume to examine the origins of the new arctic governance, n with a focus on security issues. The arctic, as a unique area of our planet, has always attracted the interest of humanity. See alyson bailes, spitsbergen in a sea of change in the spitsbergen treaty, in the spitsbergen treaty. This book focuses on understanding and explaining the emergence of cooperation in the arctic through an exploration by leading scholars and experts on the region of a key set of interlinked questions. If an arctic ocean treaty is not the solution, what is the. The european union eu is a global actor, which considers itself. China is directing economic investment to cashstrapped greenland and iceland while advancing a unique narrative of multilateral governance that could eventually weaken arctic states control of the region and boost chinas effort to become a major player in the region through its polar silk road.

A remote and evocative archipelago, the islands of norways arctic north hold a unique allure for those with a sense of adventure. International agreements arctic portal the arctic gateway. Features of the sovereignty of norway above spitsbergen under the parisian treaty of 1920. The chinese government hereby issues this white paper, to expound its basic positions on arctic affairs, to elaborate on its. American military and political geographies of spitsbergen and other norwegian polar territories, 19411950 capelotti, p j on. Participating actively in arctic governance and international cooperation.

In a changing arctic that presents increasing challenges to a limited statecentric view of. Identity and relationshipbuilding in chinas arctic. Brings together a leading international group of experts on the region. The arctic in international law and policy iucn library. Theres been a flurry of reaction to chinas recently released white paper on the arctic, the first such policy published by the country. The author argues that states and indigenous communities in the circumpolar region.

Pdf the svalbard treaty and its claimed extendedreach jurisdiction incorporating both the continental. The issue has highlighted an underlying disagreement between norway and the eu over the status of the maritime zones around the archipelago of svalbard, stemming from the 1920 spitsbergen treaty. Arctic governance centre for international governance. It is partly ice covered, it is environmentally vulnerable and subjected to rapid climate changes. Drawing lessons for arctic governance from the antarctic. Arctic governance in an evolving arctic region a proposal by the standing committee of parliamentarians of the arctic region scpar 1. The spitsbergen treaty multilateral governance in the arctic, ed. Arctic treaty success model, a resolution on arctic governance has been passed on october 9, 2009, by the eu parliament. Skilfully delineating policy in the region and analysing the consequences of treaty agreements, arctic governances uncovering of a rather orderly arctic race will become an indispensable contribution to contemporary international relations concerning the polar north. The svalbard treaty of 1920, while innovative at the time because of its careful.

During the peace conferences in paris, the norwegians could convince other nations to put spitsbergen under norwegian souvereignty. But this need not be regarded as a cause for pessimism. The conclusion is that the case for spending political capital on an effort to negotiate the terms of an arctic ocean treaty is weak. The treaty requires norway to protect the natural environment. A history of the functioning of the spitsbergen treaty. It needs to be remembered, however, that the origins of the treaty negotiations lay in the 19571958 igy and the circumstances pertaining to the. International governance and regulation of the marine arctic. Geophysical developments in the arctic will challenge and disrupt traditional patterns of arctic governance at the global, regional, bilateral, national, subnational and local levels, a shockwave that carries profound implications for shipping routes, on and offshore resource and economic development, international trade and investment patterns, territorial definitions and disputes, local. The high contracting parties undertake to recognise, subject to the stipulations of the present treaty, the full and absolute sovereignty of norway over the archipelago of spitsbergen, comprising, with bear island or beereneiland, all the islands situated between 10deg. The presence of ice makes this region particularly fragile and exposed to environmental degradation. Ratifications shall be deposited at paris as soon as possible. The new arctic governance linda jakobson and neil melvin sipri research reports. However, as part of the compromise with the signatories, despite norwegian sovereignty not all norwegian law applies. However, as part of the compromise with the signatories, despite.

The evolution of the eus approach to arctic governance turned out to be very controversial, and the initial tools and mechanisms that it relied upon to be present in the arctic region, for instance, adopting legislation banning the trade of seal products, questioning the established governance in the region by suggesting an antarctic treaty. The antarctic treaty remains the cornerstone of antarctic governance. In certain cases, the arctic councils guidelines and rules can be adopted by international organizations such as the international maritime organization imo polar code on navigation rules. Wikipedia article, wikidata item the treaty concerning spitsbergen of 9 february 1920 declared the arctic archipelago of spitsbergen now called svalbard an overseas part of the kingdom of norway article 1. Chinas icebreaker xuelong docked in shanghai, june 2015. Coal mining has historically been the dominant economic activity, and the spitzbergen treaty of 9 february 1920 gives the 45 countries that so far have ratified the treaty equal rights to exploit mineral deposits, subject to norwegian regulation. The norwegian arctic archipelago of spitsbergen is an antidote to modernday life and a prime destination for adventure travelers. Second spitsbergen treaty cyber nations wiki fandom. Why is the european union challenging norway over snow. Jan 26, 2018 beijing the state council information office of the peoples republic of china published a white paper titled chinas arctic policy on jan 26. Amoreshenkov russian frontiers of the maritime arctic. It secures full norwegian sovereignty over the archipelago, but contains several restrictions. Arctic expedition to spitsbergen and svalbard archipelago.

For many years, the arctic as the last wilderness was the main image portrayed. Governance and the spitsbergen treaty a final example highlighting an i ssue of contention in brussels is the discourse around arctic governance regimes. The svalbard treaty originally the spitsbergen treaty recognises the sovereignty of norway over the arctic. The svalbard treaty of 1920 set a standard for international governance.

The exercise of sovereignty is, however, subject to certain stipulations, and not all norwegian law applies. Examines the issue of arctic governance in a global context. Members of the research group focus on a broad diversity of aspects of governance. The charter of the united nations, the united nations convention on the law of the sea unclos, the spitsbergen treaty and other treaties and general international law govern arctic affairs at present. Challenges for the antarctic treaty system vereniging. Svalbard, circled, is part of norway red, it is in the high arctic, though the west coast in particular is kept ice free in the summer by the last. Pdf the geographic scope of the svalbard treaty and norwegian. Wildlife capital of the arctic expedition dossier 1 spitsbergen explorer. Features of the sovereignty of norway above spitsbergen. This workshop was organised by the leuven centre for global governance studies and the united nations association flanders belgium vvn with the support of belspo and the royal flemish academy of belgium for science and the arts. During the long midsummer days, black watch will cruise up the spectacular norwegian coastline, past the seven sisters mountain range, and the north cape as far as the arctic outpost of spitsbergen. This is important given the current low level frictions and legal arguments that presently exist over the interpretation of the treaty, yet these very arguments could give us an opportunity to look at a new formulation appropriate to the realities of the current international context which confronts the. Arctic policies database arctic portal the arctic gateway.

A complete guide around the arctic archipelago useful and important information, nature and history, places and regions. The treaty limits norways right to collect taxes to that of financing services on svalbard. Five arctic nations are claiming rights to overlapping territory and there is no. An archipelago of islands in the arctic ocean and inside the arctic circle about half way between norway and the north pole, the largest island is spitsbergen. Apr 04, 2017 although unresolved sovereignty issues in the south china sea make it a tough case, there is a model to study and lessons to be learned in the cooperative management of the arctic region as well as the 1959 antarctic treaty and the 1936 montreux convention.

Chinas arctic engagement has increased considerably during the past decade, which has not only offered plentiful economic opportunities but also created new risks and concerns among the eight arctic states, nonstate actors, and peoples. Numminen l 2011 a history and functioning of the spitsbergen treaty. But its focus on international law is worth a deep dive. Multilateral governance in the arctic, helsinki, arctic.

It has been granted to the archipelago and separately located bear island on the basis of the parisian treaty developed at the. This document retains considerable saliency and indeed has been championed by some as a potential model of arctic governance. Germany has hosted three international arctic conferences in berlin. A champion for the development of a community with a shared future for mankind, china is an active participant, builder and contributor in arctic affairs who has spared no efforts to contribute its wisdom to the development of the arctic region. There is no single comprehensive treaty for all arctic affairs. The first world war drew interest away from the arctic. Apr 14, 2020 there is no single comprehensive treaty for all arctic affairs. Sar is the first ever legally binding document elaborated under the auspices of the arctic council and the first truly panarctic legally binding document the only other multilateral arctic binding document, the 1973 polar bear agreement, was signed by only five of the eight arctic states canada, denmark, norway, the usa, and the ussr. Pdf the geographic scope of the svalbard treaty and. Sovereignty and territorial temptation by christopher r. This book provides an analytical introduction, a chronology of legally relevant events, and a selection of essential materials covering a wide range of issueseg delineation. The treaty regulates the demilitarisation of the archipelago. Canada, which was defined by a bilateral russianbritish convention of. Cambridge core public international law sovereignty and territorial temptation by christopher r.

And now we have reached the second half of the book in which stange delves into the different regions of svalbard, of. Powers of which the seat of the government is outside europe may confine their action to informing the government of the french republic, through. The eu as a prospective permanent observer to the arctic. Spitsbergen treaty wikisource, the free online library. The 1920 svalbard treaty conferred full and absolute sovereignty on norway but paradoxically limited that sovereignty by conferring on states party to the treaty equal enjoyment and liberty of access. One thought on lessons from the arctic for the south china sea heinzdieterjopp. It then proposes an arctic treaty, modeled in part after the antarctic treaty, as a resolution of the dispute in consideration of the objectives of each state and the arctics unique environment. Chinas policy goals and basic principles on the arctic. The svalbard treaty originally the spitsbergen treaty recognises the sovereignty of norway over the arctic archipelago of svalbard, at the time called spitsbergen.

Coal mining, tourism, and international research are svalbards major industries. What explains the emergence of this form of governance in the arctic. The arctic archipelago of svalbard has been under norwegian sovereignty since. Increased global interest in the arctic poses challenges to contemporary international relations and many questions surround exactly why and how arctic countries are asserting their influence and claims over their northern reaches and why and how nonarctic states are turning their attention to the region. The peoples of the arctic are facing great challenges because of these changes. Feb 12, 2020 experience the true arctic treasures around templefjorden area. The possibility of an arctic treaty by brit floistad and lars lothe the arctic has certain special features. The antarctic treaty system as a model for arctic governance 1. This is important given the current low level frictions and legal arguments that presently exist over the interpretation of the treaty, yet these very arguments could give us an opportunity to look at a new formulation appropriate to the realities of the current international context which confronts the arctic. A comparative study of mediation regulation and practices in europe and the.

Status of spitsbergen svalbard library of congress. Multilateral governance in the arctic alliance of liberals and democrats for europe applied international law network 2011 wallis d, foreword in schonewille m and schonewille f eds, the variegated landscape of mediation. Diana paulette wallis, fcil born 28 june 1954 in hitchin, hertfordshire is a british former liberal democrat member of the european parliament mep for. Diplomacy and paradiplomacy in the north atlantic and the.

Arctic governance in a time of change in 2007, russia planted its flag beneath the north pole, laying claim to large expanses of arctic ocean seabed expected to contain billions of dollars worth in oil and gas reserves and triggering a northern gold rush. Arnold, numminen, scotcher and bailes, the spitsbergen treaty multilateral governance in the arctic, alliance of liberals and democrats for europeapplied. Modern international legal position of spitsbergen is considered as a phenomenon in international law. Wildlife capital of the arctic if there is such a thing as a classic arctic expedition, this is it. Under the treaty, norway has sovereignty over svalbard but all of the signatory countries to the treaty are allowed to dig mines, undertake scientific research and so on. While stange does not claim to provide a complete overview, it gives the reader a fantastic understanding of the different historical facets of the archipelago. What constitutes the current form of arctic governance. The region has emerged as an example of successful cooperation and innovative governance. This article proposes that the historical value of the svalbard question is found not in its legal resolution, but in the way that nonstate actors contributed to that resolution. Vjacheslav zilanov clearly prescribe the differences between them in their book. The arctic archipelago of svalbard has been under norwegian sovereignty.

Why is the european union eu pursuing a relatively minor issue over the right to catch snow crab in the barents sea. Apr 28, 2020 in 20, the arctic council agreed to admit 1 myers sl 20, arctic council adds 6 nations as observer states, including china, new york times 15 may six new states as formal observers, with five of them, including china, being from the asiapacific region, these are india, japan, singapore and south korea. This book provides the background that you need to understand and enjoy spitsbergens beautiful, yet fragile and sometimes dangerous environment. These three pillars intersect and interact making arctic governance multifaceted and highly complex. The spitsbergen treaty multilateral governance in the arctic.

The unique legal status of an arctic archipelago world policy. Germany is a signatory of the spitsbergen treaty and has permanent observer status on the arctic council. Professor geir ulfstein, who wrote a book about the svalbard treaty. Despite its uniqueness, the arctic is more difficult to preserve than other areas of our planet. The treaty defines svalbard as all islands, islets and skerries from 74 to 81 north latitude, and from 10 to 35 east longitude. The svalbard treaty was signed on 9 february 1920 and came into effect on 14 august 1925.