Spotlight on Svalbard: Realities and myths in a microcosm of Arctic geopolitics

Polar Geopolitics

Although a unique set of circumstances characterize Svalbard, belonging to Norway under a 1920 treaty, the situation there reflects many of the major trends—and faultlines—in Arctic geopolitics. From science diplomacy and security to geoeconomics and great power competition, the High Arctic archipelago, where both Norway and Russia maintain permanent settlements and an array of non-Arctic states are active through long-term research programs, provides a useful lens for analyzing some of the key issues at stake in the contemporary Arctic. Dr. Andreas Østhagen, Senior Researcher at the Fridtjof Nansen Institute, joins the podcast for a comprehensive discussion that encompasses the new Norwegian white paper on Svalbard, the interest of China and India and other countries present there, the relevant international legal regimes and Russian hybrid activities in and around the archipelago. For those wanting to learn more about Svalbard, this 90-minute episode, centered on Østhagen’s extensive research and expertise, serves as a crash course on one of the most complex and fascinating areas of Arctic geopolitics.