Consistencies and inconsistencies in the national strategies of the Arctic littoral states

This thesis is a comparative analysis of the Arctic strategies of the five Arctic Ocean states. Beginning with the release of Norway’s High North Strategy in 2006, there has been a series of national directives released from each of the coastal states, the most recent coming from Canada in July of 2009. Though these strategies are tailored to national considerations, there are a number of commonalities in priorities and objectives that are consistent throughout each. This study examines these commonalities and considers the differences in respect to four concepts of foreign policy: security, cooperation, energy, and the environment. It also evaluates the symbolic importance that these strategies have within the current geopolitical realities of the Arctic, and considers whether these strategies may have deeper meanings on the political future of the region