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Regular version of the site
Master 2019/2020

Arctic as a Global Region: History and Politics

Type: Elective course (Comparative Politics of Eurasia)
Area of studies: Political Science
Delivered by: Department of History
When: 2 year, 1, 2 module
Mode of studies: distance learning
Instructors: Julia Lajus
Master’s programme: Comparative Politics of Eurasia
Language: English
ECTS credits: 5
Contact hours: 26

Course Syllabus

Abstract

The course is to explore theoretical and historical framework related to a concept of the Arctic region. It offers interdisciplinary study of the region which will include geographical, environmental, economic, cultural and political aspects of its history and contemporary development. It will explore colonial expansion in the region and resulted structure of the international cooperation and competition, environmental and global security issues, and issues related to the history and contemporary development of indigenous population. Special attention will be given to Russia’s involvement into the region and Arctic’s standing in global affairs with a focus on resources, energy and security strategies.
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

  • Is able to improve and develop his intellectual and cultural level, to build a trajectory of professional development and career.
  • Able to work with information: identify, evaluate and use information from a variety of sources for scientific and professional purposes (including with a systematic approach).
  • Able to analyze historical sources, scientific texts and reports, to review scientific literature in Russian and foreign languages.
  • Able to present historical information in a scientific and popular form.
  • Able to create and edit scientific and popular texts, to present complex historical information in a publicly accessible form.
  • Able to analyze the obtained information using modern software.
  • Capable of conducting independent research, including problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, identifying the object and subject of research, choosing the mode and methods of research, and assessing its quality.
  • Is able to conduct independent fundamental and applied research using classical and modern methodology, analysis of problems, setting goals and objectives, selection of the object and subject of research, choice of research mode and methods, as well as assessment of its quality.
  • Able to analyze and propose scientific interpretation of historical events in their interrelation in accordance with the requirements of modern historical science.
Expected Learning Outcomes

Expected Learning Outcomes

  • Able to reflex (evaluate and rework) the learned scientific and activity methods
  • Able to create new theories, invent new ways and tools of professional activity.
  • Masters new research methods independently, changes the scientific and production profile of his/her activities.
  • Able to improve and develop his intellectual and cultural level, to build a trajectory of professional development and career.
  • Able to work with information: identify, evaluate and use information from a variety of sources for scientific and professional purposes (including with a systematic approach).
  • Able to analyze historical sources, scientific texts and reports, to review scientific literature in Russian and foreign languages.
  • Able to present historical information in a scientific and popular form.
  • Able to create and edit scientific and popular texts, to present complex historical information in a publicly accessible form.
  • Able to analyze the obtained information using modern software.
  • Capable of conducting independent research, including problem analysis, setting goals and objectives, identifying the object and subject of research, choosing the mode and methods of research, and assessing its quality.
  • Able to conduct independent fundamental and applied research using classical and modern methodology, analysis of problems, setting goals and objectives, selection of the object and subject of research, choice of research mode and methods, as well as assessment of its quality.
  • Able to analyze and propose scientific interpretation of historical events in their interrelation in accordance with the requirements of modern historical science.
  • Able to take part in scientific polemics in oral and written form.
  • Capable of extracting, selecting and structuring information from a variety of types of sources according to professional objectives.
  • Able to develop proposals and recommendations for applied research and consulting
  • Able to use relevant research results in political science and adjacent sciences, to develop applications of political science for solving practical tasks
Course Contents

Course Contents

  • The Arctic: Introduction.
    Geography, environmental problems, international organizations in the Arctic.
  • Region-building in the Arctic
    International region-building in the Arctic. Uses of history for region-building: example of the Barents region.
  • MOOC Global Arctic https://ru.coursera.org/learn/global-arctic
    The GlobalArctic MOOC introduces the dynamics between global changes and changes in the Arctic. This course aims to highlight the effects of climate change in the Polar region. In turn, it will underline the impacts of a warmer Arctic on the planet Earth. Besides, this course gives course followers an understanding of the key challenges and pathways to sustainable development in the Arctic region. This course is unique as it gathers several world’s experts for the first time to speak about the Arctic. Their respective inputs from different academic perspectives and disciplines offer a relevant and complete assessment of the Arctic region and its connection to the rest of the planet
  • Colonization and natural history in the Arctic
    Colonization of the European and Russian Arctic. Comparison of Nordic and Russian colonization. Indigenous people in Swedish and Danish history. Russian Pomors and mastering of the coasts of the White and Barents seas. Role of science and technology in colonization
  • Resources, Voices and Governance
    Resources of the Arctic: fisheries, whaling, mineral resources. Growing of importance of oil and gas. Governance regimes in the Arctic. Voices of state actors, experts and indigenous people
  • Cold War in the Arctic
    Militarization of the Arctic. Competition and cooperation in science. International Geophysical Year, 1957 – 1958. High modernism in the Arctic
  • Arctic Energy, Security and Geopolitics
    Climate change and energy in the Arctic. Security and mineral resources in the Arctic. History and present role international organizations (APA, IASC, Arctic Council) in Arctic geopolitics. National interests in the Arctic. Russia and the Northern Sea Route, Increasing interest of non-Arctic states in the Arctic
  • Indigenous people in the Arctic. Arctic Heritage and Tourism
    History of indigenous people in the Arctic in comparative perspective. Rights of indigenous people. Climate change and traditional cultures. Preservation of Arctic heritage: indigenous, cultural, heritage of exploration, industrial heritage. Museums of Arctic exploration and traditional cultures. Development of tourism in the Arctic.
Assessment Elements

Assessment Elements

  • non-blocking Class participation and discussion
  • non-blocking MOOC results discussed in class
  • non-blocking Essay
Interim Assessment

Interim Assessment

  • Interim assessment (2 module)
    0.4 * Class participation and discussion + 0.4 * Essay + 0.2 * MOOC results discussed in class
Bibliography

Bibliography

Recommended Core Bibliography

  • McCannon, J. (2012). A History of the Arctic : Nature, Exploration and Exploitation. London: Reaktion Books. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=538545

Recommended Additional Bibliography

  • Kraska, J. (2011). Arctic Security in an Age of Climate Change. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsebk&AN=375954
  • Russia's Arctic strategies and the future of the Far North, Laruelle, M., 2014
  • The Arctic in the Anthropocene: Emerging Research Questions. (2014). Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsstc&AN=edsstc.1160344
  • unknown ( host institution ), & Doel, R. E. ( author ). (2014). Strategic Arctic science: national interests in building natural knowledge – interwar era through the Cold War. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=edsbas&AN=edsbas.DE2F00B2