Arctic and North

2

Authors: SLUKOVSKII Zakhar I.

In 2020, a book, edited by E.A. Borovichov and N.V. Vronsky, “Nature and the indigenous population of the Arctic under the influence of climate change and industrial development: the Murmansk Oblast” was published by the Graphite Publishing House. The book provides a comprehensive assessment of the effects of modern climate dynamics and human impact on biota, the environment and nature management in the Murmansk Oblast, one of the most industrially developed regions of the Russian Arctic, with particular attention to changes in the life of the indigenous people of the area — the Sami. The approaches to the development of a regional climate change adaptation strategy based on scenarios of the development of the Murmansk Oblast and considering the traditional knowledge of the indigenous population, as well as the socio-cultural development strategy of Lovozero, the compact residence area for the Kola Sami, are presented.

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Authors: HANRAHAN Maura

Wrangel Island is the largest island in the Russian Eastern Arctic and is now a protected place with international recognition. One of only five UNESCO world heritage sites in the Arctic, Wrangel Island is uniquely varied in its flora and fauna for an Arctic island. In this reflection piece, I use an Indigenous Mi’Kmaw cosmological approach to envision the much-storied Wrangel Island as a being and an actant in its long history, especially regarding human beings and anthropocenic activity. My approach asserts that, like plants, rocks, mountains, water, and landscapes, Wrangel Island has a unique and remarkable identity, personality, and spirit. For centuries, Wrangel Island has rebuffed human presence and it has been little affected by human activity. Today only scientists visit; no human collectivity has ever gained more than a slippery grip on the island. The tragedy is that, despite the island’s inclinations, the warming of the Russian Arctic may change this.

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Authors: TUTYGIN Andrey G., CHIZHOVA Lyudmila A., REGETA Anna I.

The article is devoted to the analysis and justification of socio-economic background that initiates the need to change the paradigm of management for small and medium-sized businesses in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The key points of this analysis, in addition to the generally accepted estimates of demographic trends, were those indicators of the dynamics and structure of the standard of living which are the link between the population as a consumer of goods and services, and small businesses that create these goods and services. In the almost complete absence of a single content that allows full monitoring of small and medium-sized businesses, the state makes attempts to make adequate management decisions based on the project management methods. It is especially clearly reflected in the adopted and implemented system of national and federal projects and programs. At the same time, even in the current trends in the formation of information and analytical support for these projects and programs that directly or indirectly relate to small businesses, economic aspects often prevail over social ones, which is directly reflected in the formation of the management paradigm. At the same time, a systematic approach and appropriate tools, lead the authors to the conclusion that in the coordinate system of socio-economic development of the Arctic territories, the economic drivers are large corporate structures, while small businesses are assigned the role of a localized “social buffer”. It is one of the main backgrounds for changing the paradigm for small and medium-sized business management in the Arctic areas of Russia. The current economic situation caused by the COVID-2019 pandemic fully confirms our assumptions.

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Authors: POPKOVA Svetlana V., ZARUBIN Lev S.

The critical aspects of the international legal regulation of shipping in the Arctic discussed on the international Arctic agenda are analyzed. The authors examine the specifics of the Northern Sea Route legal status from the perspective of the leading role of the Arctic coastal states and the possibilities for countries to specify at the national and regional levels the universal norms of international maritime law at the national and regional levels. The authors devoted much attention to the study of the UNCLOS 1982, Art. 234, which gives coastal states the right to adopt national laws and regulations to control pollution of the marine environment in ice-covered areas within exclusive economic zones. The article is one of the leading international legal grounds for the Russia's establishment of control over the NSR shipping. The Polar Code, entered into force in 2017, is examined separately. The article also presents expert opinions on navigation forecasts in the Arctic region.

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Authors: GRINYAEV Sergey N., ZHURAVEL Valery P.

March 5, 2020, President of Russia V.V. Putin approved the Basic Principles of Russian Federation State Policy in the Arctic to 2035. It is a strategic planning document aimed at ensuring the national security of the Russian Federation and designed to protect Russia’s interests in the Arctic. It defines goals, directions, tasks, as well as mechanisms for implementing Russian policy in the Arctic for the next 15 years. The authors analyzed the implementation results of the Basic Principles of Russia’s State Policy in the Arctic until 2020 and further perspectives. The article provides a general outline of the Basic Principles of Russian Federation State Policy in the Arctic to 2035. The authors focus on the analysis of the leading national security challenges in the Arctic and enhancing integrated security of the fuel and energy complex, as well as the main directions of the implementation of the state policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic. They are the protection of the population and territories of the Arctic zone from natural and human-made emergencies, enhancing national security in the Arctic zone, ensuring the military security of the Russian Federation, and protection of the state border of the Russian Federation. It is emphasized that the comprehensive implementation of the Basic Principles will contribute to improving the quality of life of people in the Arctic zone, socio-economic development of the country, and increasing its defense capability in the Arctic.

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Authors: BHAGWAT J.

The opening of the Northern Sea Route (NSR) due to the melting of the Arctic sea ice ushers in many opportunities. The International Maritime Organization has introduced several regulations for shipping and the training of seafarers. The Northern Sea Route has several challenges concerning the infrastruc-ture and the harsh weather conditions. The recent incident on board the Viking Sky cruise liner was a re-minder of such challenges. The Norwegian authorities responded admirably, and the Search and Rescue operation was conducted with the necessary coordinated effort in the shortest possible time. Other inci-dents along the NSR and increasing ship casualties in the Arctic region have been analyzed concerning the adequacy of existing regulations. The author’s opinion is that these incidents bring out a need to examine the adequacy of the Polar code, infrastructure along the NSR, and the current state of Search and Rescue (SAR). From a practical point of view, the Norwegian experience would be of interest to all Arctic states and the IMO. The evolution of the Polar Code and the challenges in implementation are discussed. The article puts forth several recommendations for improving cooperation and safety to make the NSR a viable alternative route. This article can be used for educational purposes at universities. It is relevant for civil servants, shipping authorities, search and rescue authorities, and researchers involved in developing the Arctic sea routes and specifically the Northern Sea Route.

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Authors: Aleksandr Yu. Tsvetkov

The article, devoted to the analysis of transport and geographical locations, describes possible strategies for the development of tourism in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The main goal of the research was the development of logistic schemes of the transportation of tourists from the places of formation of tourist flows to the Arkhangelsk Oblast. The methodological basis of the article is to determine the economic distances between potential tourist distribution centers and their places of interest in the area. Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Arkhangelsk were considered as the main towns of departure. Kargopol, Solvychegodsk, Kholmogory and Lomonosovo, Solovki, Kenozersky National Park, and Pinega caves are regarded as the main sites of tourist interest in the Arkhangelsk Oblast. It was determined that Kargopol is the most accessible for tourists, and Kenozersky National Park is the most recognizable by tourists but the least accessible. The object of world cultural heritage, the Monastery of the Transfiguration of the Saviour on Solovki is the most accessible for tourists from the territory of Karelia. It is recommended to optimize the schedule and to synchronize the work of transport for tourists to improve the transport accessibility of recreational facilities in the area. Composed logistic transport schemes allow optimizing the planning of tourist routes in the Arkhangelsk Oblast.

12

Authors: Valery A. Gurtov, Andrey V. Stasevich

The article deals with theses thematic grouping, both following the Russian Arctic zone’s areas of socio-economic activity and organizations where they were prepared. Thesis selection on Arctic topics was carried out using morphemes (titles and keywords) of theses defended in 1990–2018. 1.436 of theses were selected, incl. 1.201 for the degree of Candidate of Sciences and 235 — for the degree of Doctor of Sciences amounting to 1% of the total number of analyzed theses. More than 50% of theses related to the Arctic topics were dealing with three principal areas of Arctic socio-economic activity: “water and biological resources”, “ecology, climate and people”, and “geology and minerals”. Researchers’ organizations were in 51 different territories of the Russian Federation. Among 503 organizations involved in Arctic research on all topics, the leaders are Lomonosov Moscow State University (72 theses), Murmansk Marine Biological Institute, Kola Scientific Center, Russian Academy of Sciences (62 theses), Knipovich Polar Research Institute of Marine Fisheries and Oceanography (43 theses). The analysis allows us to create an objective list of all organizations — Competence centers for Arctic studies — involved in areas related to Arctic socio-economic activity.

12

Authors: Larisa V. Nenasheva

The article represents the review of manuscript books of the 15th – 20th centuries introduced at the exhibition “No righteous man exists without honoring books. Manuscript book of the Russian North of the 15th– 20th centuries”. All exhibits are stored at the State Museum Association “Artistic Culture of the Russian North”. The museum’s collection includes many impressive monuments of traditional Russian literature, as well as manuscripts of the Old Believer environment. For several years, attribution of manuscript monuments was carried out. The result of scientific research was a catalog. The fascinating books in terms of content and artistic performance are exhibited at the museum. The exhibition stands show many miniatures, screensavers, and other elements of book design. Each visitor of the exhibition will find something interesting for himself: the creation of manuscript monuments, the genre variety of the Northern book, the decoration of texts, the development of the decorative design of manuscripts, the variety of singing books. All exhibited manuscripts are presented for the first time. For this purpose, special exhibition equipment, shop windows, and a lighting system under the museum standards were used.

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Authors: Valery P. Zhuravel

The article represents a review of the leading international and Russian conferences that took place in 2019 and played an essential role in the study and development of the Arctic. The author paid attention to the analysis of their features from the standpoint of strengthening Arctic international cooperation. It is noted that the Fifth International Forum “The Arctic — Territory of Dialogue” (St. Petersburg) made a significant contribution to the development of Arctic solidarity and partnership. The author commended a proposal of creating a separate state company in Russia that would operate on the Arctic shelf, have the appropriate personnel, equipment and would not be related to business interests. It is noted that in Russia, it is necessary to organize more events and conferences on the Arctic topic in the Arctic territories. The publication concerns the measures taken by the country's leadership to manage the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. Particular attention is paid to the further development of the Northern Sea Route, a new approach to its functioning, which consists of a significant increase in its cargo transportation along with the parallel development of the Russian Arctic territories within the framework of development support zones. The article presents an analysis of the State Commission for the Development of the Arctic meetings on research and national projects. The author also focuses on the current problems of defense and security in the Arctic region. It is noted that Russia is taking adequate measures to strengthen its national security in the Arctic region in response to the NATO states’ military buildup in the Arctic.

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Authors: Elena A. Korchak

The Arctic territories of Russia were explored and populated rigorously and purposefully during the Soviet period. The settling pattern was then based on the industrial capabilities of the Arctic areas (mineral deposits), considering the need to develop relevant transport infrastructure. The incentive component of the Soviet propaganda of Arctic development was aimed at mobilizing the skilled workforce. The market transformation in the late 20th century caused a rapid deterioration in the social and economic situation nation-wide: the state abandoned protectionism of the Arctic territories so that state-provided preferences were significantly reduced. Such transformations eventually entailed the reduction of social and economic services and a large-scale migration outflow in the Arctic territories. The current social and economic situation in the Arctic is still characterized by a negative migration balance, which determines a decline in the level of labor force participation. The negative migration balance is attributable to the lower economic attractiveness of the region, which again brings about the issue of unemployment in the Arctic. Destructive processes in the social and economic development of the Arctic territories of Russia shape multi-faceted threats to its stable evolution. Thus, the analysis of the long-term pattern of the social space in the Arctic territories of Russia is an essential aspect of new emerging conceptual approaches towards research and practical plan for Arctic development. The purpose of the survey was to review the pattern of the social space in the modern Arctic territories of Russia between 1950 and 2018, with one of its objectives being the analysis of its social development stages based on historiographic, problematic / chronological, retrospective and comparative-historical methods. The survey shows that transformations in the consistent long-term pattern of the social space in the modern Arctic territories of Russia are determined by the intensity of its industrial development, the scale of government support, and the long-term interests of the national economy.

4

Authors: Natalia V. Drannikova

The book is the result of a great work of M. A. Lukina on the history of villages in the Delta of the Northern Dvina River. The book is the first study of the island colonization, establishment, and centuries-old development of settlements in the mouth of the Northern Dvina River. The author combined the traditional historical approach to the data presentation and the method associated with the study of the value change over the centuries and historical memory.

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Authors: Valery B. Mitko, Marina V. Minina, Arseny V. Mitko

The founding of the St. Petersburg Scientific Public Organization “The Arctic Public Academy of Sciences”, created at the beginning of the 21st century, is briefly described in the article. The Academy is based on the Arctic direction of the Geopolitics and Security Section of the Russian Academy of Natural Sciences. Three stages of its development are designated and commented on, as well as the main directions of the Academy's activities, and examples of projects. The Academy actively participates in international forums, conferences, summits, committees, and festivals. Being an expert scientific organization, AEAS plays a vital role in civil society and consolidates domestic intellectual potential.

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Authors: Minsu Kim, Maksim L. Marchenkov

The following article is a policy review paper devoted to the general analysis of the Arctic policy of the Republic of Korea. The analysis includes the explanation of the country’s demand for conducting its own policy in the Arctic that mostly resides in the peculiarities of South Korea’s geographical position and economic conditions and demands. The policy of South Korea in the Arctic region is highlighted in the three stages: before joining the Arctic Council, during the first master plan for the Arctic, and after the updated Arctic policy was issued. The brief history of the Korea’s participation in the Arctic activities is highlighted. Also, the provisions of Korea’s first master plan for the Arctic are highlighted, and some conclusions are made regarding its implementation. Then the updated Arctic policy of South Korea is examined. The core conclusion is that during 20 year of participation in the Arctic-related activities, the Republic of Korea has transformed its Arctic policy from being research-oriented only to providing national economic benefits from the multilateral inclusion in the Arctic cooperation institutions and events. Some further reflections on Korea’s further Arctic policy are provided at the conclusion.

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Authors: Elena V. Nedoseka, Galina V. Zhigunova

The article presents an analysis of the local identity of single-industry town residents in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation (AZRF) in the case of the Murmansk Oblast, which has half the single-industry towns of the Arctic zone. Considering local identity as a EArt of territorial identity, the authors present it as a symbolic sEAce for creating and strengthening the sense of territorial identity. At the same time, according to the authors, the people's identification related to the area of residence contributes to the construction of an effective system of regional interaction. It is one of the critical factors for the sustainable development of territories. According to the results of the study, positive and negative factors of identity manifestation were obtained from the residents of single-industry towns of the surveyed area (questionnaire (n=428), in-depth interviews (n=12)); the assessment of connection with the place of residence and socio-economic status of residents, the degree of attractiveness of cities and migration attitudes of the population were determined. The authors argue that the socio-economic image of the area in the minds of its residents is developing along with the manifestation of their rootedness. A distinctive feature of the local identity of single-industry town residents in the Murmansk Oblast is well-being. It determines the visibility of communication with the place of residence. The increase in prosperity is proportional to the growth of identification with the town, and it is of strategic importance for building regional policies in single-industry towns.

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Authors: Tatyana S. Lytkina, Andrey V. Smirnov

The article summarizes the results of a long-term study of changes in living conditions of the population in the North during the formation of trade capitalism and the spread of neoliberal policy. Expulsion is considered as an institutionally organized way of exception in the form of state policy, actively supporting social polarization, contributing to consumer way of natural resource development and extensive use of before-built infrastructure, and accompanied by the isolation of the experience, disregard of the interests and violation of the rights of residents. The article proves that Soviet policy, interested in attracting labor to develop the Russian North and used a distribution system of goods for these purposes, did not contribute much to the consolidation of labor migrants in the northern territories as it initiated their return to the homeland at the end of their labor biography. The position of a “temporary worker” was formed by the proposed privileges, which served a compensation for work in adverse climatic conditions but did not contribute to the prospects for the development of the northern territories. At the same time, the interests of residents, who turned out to be cut off from prestigious jobs and found themselves in worse living conditions, were regularly ignored, and their rights were unrecognized. If, through vertical mobility and integration into the Soviet distribution system, it was possible to smooth out the inequities in the distribution of benefits, it became more difficult to hide this with the country's transition to the market and the beginning of a new phase of natural resource extraction. Moreover, considering the exclusion processes have become more widespread. Now not only the indigenous peoples of the North but also the second generation of migrants are among the vulnerable groups. The focus of the conflict has shifted and expressed itself in the relations between the residents of the Center and the regions.

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Authors: Leonid A. Vaisberg

The review emphasizes the key features of the monograph “The Arctic: Development Strategy”, prepared by experts of the Council for the Study of Productive Forces of the Ministry of Economic Devel-opment of Russia and NArFU named after M.V. Lomonosov. The authors developed a systematic analysis of the development issues of the Russian Arctic and the state development efforts in this macro-region. They studied the preferential regimes of economic activities and the role of mineral resource centers as important drivers of socio-economic development. According to the reviewer, the monograph is of interest both to specialists and to a wide range of readers.

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Authors: Lyubov A. Zarubina

The article represents a brief overview of the speeches presented at the “Cold Peace in the Arctic” International Conference (Oslo, Norway, September 2018) attended by experts from Russia, Norway, and other countries. The author believes that many representatives of the scientific community see prospects for mitigating contradictions and strengthening international cooperation in the Arctic.

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Authors: Andrey A. Todorov, Dmitriy N. Lyzhin

The article analyzes the priorities of British policy in the Arctic. The UK has a long tradition of studying the Arctic and is one of the first observer countries of the Arctic Council. At the same time, the Arctic strategy of London has undergone several significant changes, which are a natural reaction to the changing situation in the region. An analysis of the British Foreign Ministry report 2018 reveals four primary areas of the UK's interest in the Arctic. First, the country's economy continues to rely heavily on the hydrocarbon and bioresources of the Arctic. Secondly, after the outbreak of the Ukrainian crisis and in the conditions of deteriorating relations with Moscow, the British authorities have begun to pay more attention to the security, primarily the military one. Third, an important direction of the UK Arctic policy is to solve the problem of climate change since the country considered one of the world leaders in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Finally, the development of international cooperation in the region based on scientific diplomacy is one of the priorities of British Arctic politics. However, despite the official documents fixing the priorities of the UK’s Arctic strategy, London’s Arctic policy is passive. This fact is a reason for British expert criticism.

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Authors: Natalia A. Serova, Valentina A. Serova

In the article, the authors discussed the formation of a single transport system in the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation. The development of the Arctic transport system, i.e., the Northern Sea Route, adjacent airport network, seaports, water, and land communications, determined the relevance and significance of the study. It is especially important since they are the strategic priorities of Russia's Arctic policy. The study aimed to identify the trends in transport infrastructure development in the Russian Arctic. So, the authors focused on the factors determining its specifics. They conclude that the transport infrastructure of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is underdeveloped and needs technical improvement. According to the authors, a unified Arctic transport system is possible only after the restoration of year-round navigation through the NSR, its technological growth, and the reconstruction of the adjoining transport infrastructure.

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Authors: Elena A. Korchak

The key to the effective development of the Arctic resources is the active development of elements of the socio-economic systems of the Arctic territories. The progress in their use will provide a synergistic effect in the implementation of the full range of development priorities of the Arctic zone. One of these elements is labor potential, able to confront challenges in the Arctic effectively. Modern problems of the development of the labor potential of the Arctic territories are population decline, disruption of population reproduction processes, the low life expectancy of men and native people, social tensions in labor markets, and poverty. The provisions and conclusions of the presented study contain a scientifically substantiated position regarding the role of labor potential in the sustainable development of the Arctic territories of Russia. The research results are focused on their use for managing the development of the labor potential of the Arctic territories. Prospects for the further research of this topic are related to the study of the scientific foundations of the territorial self-development in achieving sustainable development of the Arctic territories of Russia.

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Authors: Pavel A. Gudev

Despite the growing tension in Russia-West relations, the Arctic region continues to remain a zone of peace and cooperation. The level of interstate collaboration here is extremely high, unlike other maritime regions. The interaction is developing in scientific research, protection of the marine environment and biodiversity, regulation of fisheries, improvement of search and rescue efforts, control of oil spills, and regulation of navigation. However, interstate competition has not disappeared in the Arctic. The countries participating in the maritime activities in the region often have completely different priorities and are firmly defending their national interests. Under sanctions’ pressure, the Russian Federation is forced to seek new partners and allies in the Arctic. This choice is extremely difficult since the coincidence of positions on one issue or another is often minimal. In order to defend its interests, Russia needs to achieve such a format of interaction with the Arctic and non-Arctic countries which would be extremely mutually beneficial and work for the good of our country, but not to its detriment.