Next steps in Arctic Ocean Governance Meeting the challenge of coordinating a dynamic regime complex

Abstract

Successful efforts to address specific needs for governance have given rise to an Arctic Ocean regime complex encompassing a sizable collection of individual elements not related to one another in any hierarchical fashion. The density of this regime complex is likely to increase during the coming years. At the same time, the globalization of the Arctic has altered conditions affecting the complex in ways that require attention. As a result, we argue, a coordination mechanism is needed to ensure the efficacy of this dynamic complex going forward. Following a survey of the evolving seascape of Arctic maritime cooperation, we assess the roles the Arctic Council and other non-state actors are playing in the development and implementation of individual elements of this regime complex. These roles are significant. But these actors lack both the authority and the capacity to coordinate the Arctic Ocean regime complex effectively. The negotiation of an Arctic Ocean Treaty to meet this need is not feasible at this juncture. We conclude that it would be helpful at this time to organize a high-level but informal Arctic Ocean Governance Conference including representatives of a broad selection of stakeholders to explore options for addressing the growing need for coordination of the Arctic Ocean regime complex.