Çatışmadan ı̇şbirliğine: Arktik Konseyi'nin ı̇stikrar ı̇nşa eden bir kurum olarak ı̇ncelenmesi

Scientific research has been conducted in the Arctic for decades. Nevertheless, the intensity of relevant research is currently increasing as the effects of climate change are becoming rapidly worse. It is a fact that the ice is melting at an astonishing rate. Because of this situation, the region has recently been witnessing both challenges and opportunities. The latter includes the exploitation of hydrocarbons and utilizing accessible maritime routes -both of which are opportunities gathering less attention- whereas conflicting issues regarding sovereignty and national security are regularly thematized by politicans and media. Here, the point is that, whereas challenges are being underlined, the opportunities are being ignored. Put differently, while politicans and the media address issues pertaining to the regional policies -especially conflicting ones and ecology of the region- on the other hand economic potential of the region triggered by the ice-melting is paid no mind. With this in mind, as the most significant institution in the region, the Arctic Council aims to manage the issues in question. Thus, this thesis aims to provide enlightenment on the Arctic states' predominant intent to utilize opportunities under the auspices of the Arctic Council via neoliberal policies. It is claimed that the Arctic Council provide cooperation among its members and by doing so, constructs stability by focusing on the relevant opportunities. Additionally, it is asserted that unlike power-based or knowledge-based pillars of regime structure, the Council could be best understood via interest- based perspective. Thus, the scope of this study is related to the neoliberal perspective of the Arctic Council. Qualified content analysis is the methodology applied within this study. Theories of international regimes are applied as theoretical framework. In this context, three significant pillars of regime theories are clarified in order to support the thesis while exploiting primary resources of reputable scholars and policy makers as data collection process. Data was collected through online sources, databases of universities and physical resources of libraries. As a core of the study, the common interests of the Arctic states, along with their strategy documents relating to the region, are examined as well in order to emphasize the interest-based approach of regimes pioneered by the Arctic Council which provides cooperation and collaboration. This study concludes that the Arctic Council holds its members on a common ground of cooperation. Furthermore, it is indicated that the Arctic states aim to further economic development as a significant common interest. Thus, it is concluded that the Arctic states opt for benefiting opportunities by taking part in the Council in place of focusing on confrontational issues. Moreover, Asian observer states of the Council as new comers to the region strengthen the cooperative mechanism of the Council. Besides, economic development has been the most significant instrument among common interests of the Arctic states so far, motivating them to take cooperative steps. All in all, it is purported that the Arctic Council constructs stability through neoliberal policies among its members. In other words, it is assumed that interest-based formation of regime theory has the best explanatory instruments in understanding the cooperative attempts manifested in the institutional structure of the Arctic Council. Keywords: The Arctic Council, Climate change, Cooperation, Economic Development, Neoliberal Policies