History, Politics and Northern Resources

SA218S

This course focuses on the historical development of the north, especially on Northern Norway, Spitsbergen and The Barents Region. Also former and present challenges in the international relations of the region, international cooperation and organizations and regimes such as The Arctic Council, Barents Euro-Artic Region (BEAR) and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) are thoroughly addressed. The course also specifically addresses the fisheries, oil & gas activities, the environmental challenges, and the security policy issues in the High North. The geographical scope of the course is centered on The Barents Region and relations between Norway and Russia.

Admission occurs based on general study competence (university entrance) according to current Norwegian regulations.

Admission occurs based on general study competence (university entrance) or work competence (prior learning) according to current Norwegian regulations.

Knowledge and Understanding

The student should:

possess basic knowledge of the historical background for and about the special legal arrangements applying to Svalbard (Spitsbergen) through the Svalbard Treaty
have basic knowledge of the history of The Barents region and the use of the historic legacy in the contemporary political construction of regional identity
demonstrate knowledge of the main political challenges of The High North
understand the dynamics and basic principles of the cooperative arrangement in The Barents Region and The Arctic, such as the Barents Euro-Arctic Region, The Arctic Council and the bilateral Norwegian-Russian fisheries and environmental arrangements, and how these link up with the ¿Arctic Governance¿-concept
understand the importance of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the Arctic when the Arctic Ocean becomes more accessible for navigation and resource extraction
understand the background and the importance of sustainable governance of the fisheries and other biological resources, and the unique environmental conditions making the region especially vulnerable to climate change and pollution
understand the security politics and dilemmas in The High North, and particularly Norway¿s challenging strategic position located between Russia, EU and NATO

Skills

The student should:

have developed skills for critical analysis of northern/Arctic issues and be able to identify and reflect upon the main challenges and the related political institutions and problem-solving mechanisms
be able to collect information and to develop and present the main issues related to the northern/Arctic challenges

General Competence

The student should:

· be able to understand and analyze northern/Arctic issues and a number of the special challenges that this region raises

be able to present essential knowledge and insights about the possibilities and limitation for a sustainable development of the High North areas

No costs except semester registration fee and syllabus literature. Students registered on the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies are excepted from the semester registration fee.

Compulsory for the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies. Elective course for other students at Nord University

On campus and online lectures, seminars and compulsory written assignments (answer to module questions).

Annual evaluations which are included in the university´s quality assurance system.

Compound assessment (SV), grading A - F:

Course work (AK):

Written assignments (answers to 4 module questions).

Grading: approved/not approved.

Oral Exam (MU):

The exam consists of an oral examination.

Grading: A-F.

The oral exam accounts for 100/100 of the final exam grade.

Course work an exam will be conducted in English, and must be answered in English.

The written assignments are preliminary examinations and have to be successfully completed, together with the oral exam.

Passing both AK and MU is required to successfully complete the course.

No additional/external help is allowed.

Generating a response using ChatGPT or similar artificial intelligence and submitting it wholly or partially as your own work is considered cheating.

At least one year of undergraduate studies, preferably within the field of social sciences, or the core courses of the Bachelor of Circumpolar Studies.

Overlap refers to a similarity between courses with the same content. Therefore, you will receive the following reduction in credits if you have taken the courses listed below:

SA218S-001 - History, Politics and Northern Resources - 4 credits

SA218S-002 - History, Politics and Northern Resources - 6 credits

Curriculum literature

Leganto

Course language

English

Credits

Study location

Bodø

Responsible faculty

Faculty of Social Sciences

Course coordinator

Information about the course coordinator for the selected semester is no longer available. Please contact the current course coordinator.