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Abstract
Based on a close analysis of the Norwegian Antarctic strategy from 2015, this article seeks to introduce Norway’s main interests and political priorities concerning the Antarctic to an international audience. It should also function as an important contribution to the international relations literature on the region. This article fills out and enriches recent analyses and presentations of old and emerging positions on the Antarctic. Norway is the only truly bipolar state, the only one with territorial claims to areas in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. The first Norwegian Antarctic strategy in nearly 80 years must be read as a clear signal of intent from the Norwegian Government. It is uncommonly comprehensive and detailed, and covers most if not all of Norway’s key foreign policy interests. The similarity to the Norwegian Arctic approach is rather striking. The take-home message is really that one can get a very good idea of how Norwegian foreign policy towards the Antarctic will be like by looking at Norway’s previous policies and actions in the Arctic. There is a clear signal from the government that Norway’s Antarctic competence and experience shall create synergies in the pursuit of national interests in the Antarctic. Norway needs a stage for its foreign policy, and new territories to promote national interests and support the national economy now that the fossil-driven Norwegian fairy tale is approaching its last chapters.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the editor, Sanjay Chaturvedi and two anonymous referees for their helpful advice and comments on the first version of this article. I would also like to thank Chris Saunders for his translations and excellent language assistance, and Maryanne Rygg for her brilliant formatting skills. Thanks also to the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for its support of the Fridtjof Nansen Institute’s efforts to strengthen Antarctic research at the institute.
Notes
1 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32 (2014–2015), 10.
2 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 5.
3 Molenaar et al., Law of the Sea.
4 Dodds and Nuttall, Scramble for the Poles.
5 Dodds, “Governing Antarctica.”
6 Hemmings and Stephens, “Extended Continental Shelves.”
7 Weber, “Comparing the Robustness.”
8 Lamers et al., “Strategic Challenges of Tourism.”
9 Verbitsky, “Antarctic Tourism Management.”
10 Brady, Emerging Politics of Antarctica, 4.
11 Joyner, “United States Foreign Policy.”
12 Brady, “China’s Antarctic Interests.”
13 Brady and Seungryeol, “Cool Korea.”
14 Gan, “Russia, the Post-Soviet World.”
15 Chaturvedi, “India and Antarctica.”
16 Bray, “Geopolitics of Antarctic Governance.”
17 I am using the official Norwegian names of the areas to which the country lays claim. The English names are Queen Maud Land, Peter I’s Island and Bouvet Island.
18 Brady, Emerging Politics of Antarctica.
19 Hansen, Security as Practice.
20 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 8.
21 Ibid.
22 Ibid.
23 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 17.
24 Mills, Exploring Polar Frontiers,540.
25 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 17.
26 Aftenposten, “Norge utvider Dronning,” September 19, 2015.
27 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 25.
28 Ibid.
29 Ibid., 26.
30 The reference in NMOFA, White Paper No. 32 was taken from NMOFA, White Paper No. 12.
31 NMOJAPS, White Paper No. 33.
32 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 29.
33 Ibid.
34 Ibid.
35 Ibid.
36 Ibid., 30.
37 Ibid.
38 Ibid., 32.
39 Ibid., 30.
40 NMOJAPS, White Paper No. 33.
41 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 32.
42 Ibid., 33.
43 Ibid.
44 Ibid., 34.
45 Ibid.
46 Ibid., 35.
47 Ibid.
48 Ibid., 37.
49 SCAR is a committee under the International Council for Science tasked with implementing, promoting and coordinating scientific research in Antarctica.
50 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 35–41.
51 Brady, Emerging Politics of Antarctica, 3.
52 Stokke and Vidas, Governing the Antarctic; Joyner, Governing the Frozen Continent.
53 Brady, Emerging Politics of Antarctica, 3.
54 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 42.
55 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 47.
56 Ibid., 44.
57 NMOCAE, White Paper No. 16.
58 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 49.
59 Ibid.
60 Ibid., 56–7.
61 Ibid., 60.
62 Ibid.
63 Ibid., 63–4.
64 NMOTIAF, White Paper No. 32 (2012–2013).
65 NMOFA, White Paper No. 32, 68 [2015].
66 Ibid., 68–9.
67 Ibid.
68 Ibid., 66–7.
69 Ibid., 67–8.