Cooperation and/or Conflict in the Arctic? : The Meaning of National Images in International Arctic Governance

This thesis criticises previous research on international Arctic governances for being biased towards liberal theoretical assumptions. It is argued that this bias has lead to an inability to also include theories that can provide nuance about cooperation and conflict in the research on Arctic. General assumption of the region as a ”zone of peace” and sometimes an excluding focus on the work and progresses made in the Arctic Council have been favoured over nuanced accounts of conflict and cooperation in international Arctic governance. The criticism is delivered by suggesting a theoretical perspective which draws on Kenneth Boulding’s insights on national images’ role in the practise of foreign policy, which is believed to be able to account for nuances and deeper understanding. Drawing on this theoretical perspective, statements and speeches made by the Arctic states’ ministers of foreign affairs are analysed by using the discursive method of predicate analysis to study how the ministers of foreign affairs image the other Arctic states. These images are assumed to have impact on how the Arctic states practise their foreign policy in the region. The main findings of this thesis suggest that national images can potentially provide understanding and nuances about cooperation and conflict in international Arctic governance. However, further research is needed to strongly argue that national images should be included in further research on international Arctic governance