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UTENRIKS-Internasjonale forhold - utenriks- og sikkerhetspolitikk og norske interesser

Challenges in Arctic Governance: Indigenous territorial rights in the Russian Federation

Alternative title: Utfordringer i Arktiske styringsstrukturer: Urfolks territorielle rettigheter i den Russiske Føderasjonen.

Awarded: NOK 4.0 mill.

This project studied how political and social affairs are managed in the Arctic, how cooperation between states and people is achieved, and what challenges Arctic people and states face in the future. A special focus in the analysis has been on the role of non-state actors such as indigenous peoples, local communities and also industrial companies in the Arctic. The project members study relation of these non-state actors to states and governance structures, particularly to the law. In the Russian Arctic, in spite of a strong centralist state, such non-state actors have demonstrated that they have interests and roles to play in the future of the Arctic. Some are now advancing new understandings of Arctic governance which includes perspectives that challenge the state and classic political frameworks. Of particular interest throughout the project research were indigenous peoples living throughout the Arctic. ArcticGov critically examined the legal reforms in the Russian Federation (RF) which have addressed the rights of indigenous peoples to territory (land and its resources). The project resulted in an extensive collection of scholarly articles and independent book chapters, with. The highlight being the Routledge Handbook of Arctic Security, the first handbook of its kind, consisting of 35 chapters. The project results were presented in September 2019 in Yaktusk, Russia, for the purposes of making results available and accessible for discussion with local, interested parties to highlight the work done in the project, and in particular what it means for the security of Arctic peoples. In addition to academic outcomes, our team has been actively involved in local activities, Thus the work of this project crossed academic and community boundaries, working for the benefit of Arctic communities.

The project resulted in a collection of scholarly articles and independent book chapters, but also contributed to the production of the Routledge Handbook of Arctic Security, the first handbook of its kind, consisting of 35 chapters in total. The contents of this book, as well as the research articles, have been presented at local, regional, and international venues including conferences, workshops, and seminars to highlight the work done in the project, and in particular what it means for the security of Arctic peoples. In addition to academic outcomes, our team has been actively involved in local activities, including the Tungusic conference which attracted 160 participants and held round circle discussion on contemporary challenges of reindeer herding. Indigenous representatives were inspired by the presentations, and continue to work on establishing of TTP in their regions. The work of this project linked academic and community, working for the benefit of Arctic communities.

There is a pressing need for an improved, more nuanced and complex understanding of governance from the bottom-up or local in the Arctic, which includes both state and non-state actors. Since the turn of the century, the Arctic has been increasingly in the global governance spotlight. How can and should we understand the role of non-state actors such as indigenous peoples and local communities in the Arctic in relation to states and governance structures, and in particular to the law? Non-state actors ranging from local communities to industries, to non-governmental organizations, and regional and international institutions, have demonstrated that they have interests and roles to play in the future of the Arctic. Those actors are now advancing new understandings of Arctic governance which includes perspectives that challenge the state and classic political posturing. In particular, we can look to indigenous peoples throughout the Arctic who, through legal reforms, have become rights holders and owners of land and Arctic waters as well as owners of multibillion dollar aboriginal corporations. ArcticGov critically examines the legal reforms in the Russian Federation (RF) which have addressed the rights of indigenous peoples to territory (land and its resources). Law has been a key force in creating, directing and limiting opportunities for indigenous individuals and collectives to exercise rights to use, exclusion and inheritance of territories, on which to practice their traditional activities (e.g., hunting, gathering, reindeer herding). Using primarily a critical legal geography approach employed particularly in our first four work packages (WPs) complemented secondarily with approaches in human security (particularly individual and community based political security) and theories of governance, we will offer new analyses of how law in Russia enables and constrains indigenous territorialities through both its discourses and practices.

Funding scheme:

UTENRIKS-Internasjonale forhold - utenriks- og sikkerhetspolitikk og norske interesser