Arcticness
“As the world is increasingly looking northwards to a region undergoing rapid change, identifying what, who or where has the ‘quality of being Arctic’ is high on the agenda; for actors both near and far, their ‘Arcticness’ becomes a potential asset as they position themselves for Arctic futures.” (Preface)
April 2020
Overall verdict: ★ ★ ★ ★
Why this book?
Why does the Arctic as a place matter now? Why will it matter in the future? Who are the people of the Arctic? How do they differ? These are just a few of the questions answered in this book. The book is semi-academic in nature but less heavy than academic papers- making it an engaging read for all. The chapters listed below would be accessible to A-Level students wanting to extend their knowledge. Oh, and I should probably mention the best bit… it’s available for free download online!
For students:
Chapter 1: Editorial Introduction: Shall I compare thee to an Arctic day (or night)?
There is no single Arctic- despite how it is portrayed in many parts of the world. But, what is the Arctic like as a place? What makes it a diverse and changing place? And why, as the 21st century progresses, will it become increasing important?
Chapter 5: Arcticness: In the making of the beholder
This chapter considers how the image of the Arctic is changing- as the area becomes more important on the geopolitical stage. The chapter discusses the problems of portraying the Arctic as a pristine untouched region which ignores the voice of the indigenous population before looking at how all of this will change with climate change and what the means for international cooperation.
For teachers:
Whilst the whole book will be of interest, Chapter 9 compares the Arctic and Uganda as resource frontiers. This was one of those chapters where the ideas for a scheme of work jump out as you read… and what a powerful unit it could be!
What are the similarities of both areas? Why are they both ‘frontiers’? What would resource development mean for both? Why is global interest growing in both?