Contemporary Issues of the Circumpolar North

This course introduces students to important structures and forces affecting the development and sustainability of circumpolar states and communities. The students work with the demography and population trends in the circumpolar region, different types of natural resource use and extraction, like fisheries and oil and gas production, as well as the increasingly globalized economies of these states and communities. Indigenous, social and health issues are also covered in addition to issues relating to governance and international politics in the High North. This course provides students with knowledge of the main challenges confronting the states, peoples and communities of the world’s northern regions. As such it will be beneficial to students attempting to better understand the current issues facing the North as well as to those planning to pursue advanced studies related to the region. This course is based on seminars offered by the University of the Arctic (UArctic).