At the Spring 2012, Program on the Environment Capstone symposium, student Victoria Choe did her paper presentation. She writes in her abstract: Warming temperatures and the declining extent of sea ice have encouraged economic development in the Russian Arctic. The Russian Federation’s implementation of a foreign policy which places priority on sustainable socio-economic development, and protection of indigenous peoples and environment, surprised many within the international community. The strengthening of the indigenous voice in Arctic governance is another significant recent transition. Indigenous peoples have gained the status of Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council, which is a high level intergovernmental forum for the Arctic region. My scholarly research aims to examine achievements by the indigenous peoples to ensure sustainable socio-economic development in the Russian Arctic. My work highlights ways in which indigenous peoples are utilizing international law and diplomacy to shape state policies. This research project uses four indigenous organizations as case studies to illustrate the evolving role of indigenous peoples in governance of the Russian Arctic. By examining the high degree of participation and political agency wielded by these non-traditional actors, it is clear that a paradigm shift in governance is taking place. This shift is one which marks the end of the strictly state-centric model of international relations towards a more cooperative and multi-lateral global political arrangement.
Victoria Choe
Title: Sustainable Socio-Economic Development: Indigenous Peoples in the Russian North
Abstract: Warming temperatures and the declining extent of sea ice have encouraged economic development in the Russian Arctic. The Russian Federation’s implementation of a foreign policy which places priority on sustainable socio-economic development, and protection of indigenous peoples and environment, surprised many within the international community. The strengthening of the indigenous voice in Arctic governance is another significant recent transition. Indigenous peoples have gained the status of Permanent Participants in the Arctic Council, which is a high level intergovernmental forum for the Arctic region. My scholarly research aims to examine achievements by the indigenous peoples to ensure sustainable socio-economic development in the Russian Arctic. My work highlights ways in which indigenous peoples are utilizing international law and diplomacy to shape state policies. This research project uses four indigenous organizations as case studies to illustrate the evolving role of indigenous peoples in governance of the Russian Arctic. By examining the high degree of participation and political agency wielded by these non-traditional actors, it is clear that a paradigm shift in governance is taking place. This shift is one which marks the end of the strictly state-centric model of international relations towards a more cooperative and multi-lateral global political arrangement.