Analysis of arctic actors' regional strategies in the context of sectors of security: A holistic approach

In recent years, the Arctic Region has ascended as a pivotal arena in global geopolitics, chiefly attributed to the transformative effects of global warming. The Arctic Region is in the midst of both an ecological and environmental change and a geopolitical transformation due to the impact of global warming. The diminished glacier mass, a direct consequence of global warming, facilitates enhanced accessibility to subterranean wealth and accentuates the Arctic Ocean's potential as an expedited, cost-effective, and secure maritime passageway linking the Pacific and Atlantic realms. Nevertheless, these burgeoning opportunities are interlaced with concomitant geopolitical vulnerabilities, catalyzing amplified interest and engagement in the region. Consequently, the Arctic now beckons the attention of not only coastal states and local inhabitants, but also non-regional stakeholders. This thesis undertakes a holistic security analysis of the official strategic frameworks of the constituents of Arctic Council, comprising all pertinent stakeholders and serving as the preeminent platform for regional governance. The main problem of the thesis is to reveal to what extent the security approaches of the Arctic actors differ and resemble each other depending on their qualities and levels of these actors. To seek the answer to this question, the official strategy documents of Arctic arctors were analyzed and compared, with the help of a qualitative software tool called MAXQDA Analytics Pro. The study adopts a holistic approach, incorporating actor diversity, analysis unit diversity, and a comprehensive theoretical framework. Actor diversity is ensured by including both regional and extra-regional actors in the analysis. The diversity of analysis units is achieved not only at the nation-state level but also at sub-national and supra-national levels. Furthermore, the security approach that forms the theoretical basis of the study departs from the Classical Security approach, which focuses solely on military security. Instead, the thesis is grounded in a holistic security approach introduced by the Copenhagen School to the literature. This approach encompasses the political, economic, social, and environmental sectors, in addition to the military sector of security.