Have you been to ‘The Arctic’? Frame theory and the role of media coverage in shaping Arctic discourse

ABSTRACT: The value of theory in drawing lessons from empirical cases remains elusive in the Arctic. In the introduction to this special issue, we develop broad theoretical underpinnings to consider how frame analysis can better inform Arctic research. We build on a research synthesis from a collaborative anthology focused on diplomacy in polar regions [Pincus, R., & Ali, S. H. (Eds.). (2015). Diplomacy on ice: Energy and the environment in the Arctic and Antarctic. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press]. Here, we review aspects of media and communication theory, in particular frame theory, and contextualize theoretically the common tropes of Arctic political conflict, centered on the so-called race or scramble for the Arctic. After introducing and identifying concepts of framing and discourse and discussing how these concepts are relevant to Arctic issues, the paper will address why these concepts are important to policy-makers, stakeholders, and the public. What are the impacts of conflict-driven frames as applied to Arctic sovereignty or development questions? We explore how frames impact diplomacy in contested spaces, such as the Arctic, and how to draw cooperative lessons from these discourses. Finally, the papers that make up this special edition are placed in relation to the broader topic