Transpolar Sea Route; Geopolitics and Security

Ballásch, Nikola

4. term

Culture, Communication and Globalization, Master

2024

2024-05-30

54 pages

Arctic shipping is a topic slowly gaining traction amongst regional and non-Arctic stakeholders as well as popular media. With the thawing ice, the three main trans-Arctic sea routes become increasingly more accessible and hold an ever-growing promise of more time and cost-effective shipping of goods across the frigid waters of the High North. The so-called Transpolar Sea Route stands out as the most distant from now, yet perhaps the most promising of the three waterways in terms of more favourable natural features and still evolving jurisdictional characteristics. Its future opening is however also subject to an intricate geopolitical landscape and many security concerns in the region. With an increased susceptibility to securitisation stemming from the vast underdevelopment, an abundance of untapped natural resources, and the clashing of a variety of political and cultural narratives of the circumpolar north, it is crucial to understand the nuances of the relations between different Arctic and non-Arctic actors and their respective interests in regard to the Arctic shipping. This thesis aims to break down the complexities of shipping along the Transpolar Sea Route including international relations, geopolitics, different security disciplines, technological limitations, legal mechanisms governing the region, and economic factors, as well as foster an educated discussion informing and educating the reader on the current trajectory of the trans-Arctic shipping and help them gain a broader understanding of different perspectives on the aforementioned aspects of the general topic. The thesis also illustrates viable scenarios for developing, governing and managing the sea route and elaborates on the implications of its future opening.

Arctic ; Shipping ; Transpolar ; Security ; Securitisation ; Geopolitics

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