THE ARCTIC REGION IN POLITICS OF AMERICAN STATES: PAST AND PRESENT

Abstract

The  article  analyzes  the  historical  experience  and  the  basic  stages of development  of  the  North  American  Arctic  states  in  the  twentieth  century. With the new data, and based on the historical method, the article reveals changing relationships of these states to the Arctic in their successive temporary development during the second half of XX – beginning of XXI centuries. The article features the evolution  of  the  position  of  the  authorities  in  Ottawa  and  Washington to the region in the context of developing and conducting them in the national interests and security policy.

The conclusion is that the policy of the US government and Canada to coordinate their  actions  in  the  region  under  the  pretext  of  defending  national  interests and to counter  external  threats,  has  some  historical  positive  outcome,  along with some  well-known  commitments.  Security  Policy  in  these  countries  limits the competence of the state threats to their territorial integrity, which does not give the  government  the  authority  to  undue  interference  in  areas  that  are  governed by market forces and civil society. In the light of the impending changes caused by the election of D. Trump, this circumstance should be exploited for excluding the very possibility of military conflict from the political process the Arctic countries.