The Arctic as a Laboratory for the Global Future

By Cecilia Sandroni and Giovanni Tonini

The Arctic of the 21st century is one of the most dynamic and complex theatres of contemporary global change. Once considered a remote and marginal frontier, this region is now at the centre of unprecedented environmental transformations and growing geopolitical rivalries that are redefining the global balance of power. The rapid melting of ice, accelerated by global warming, is not only radically altering polar ecosystems, but also opening up new economic opportunities and creating unprecedented strategic tensions between the major global powers.

The Arctic region, which includes the waters and lands within the Arctic Circle, spans eight sovereign nations: Canada, Denmark (through Greenland), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden and the United States. However, its influence extends far beyond these geographical boundaries, with implications for global climate patterns, international supply chains and the global balance of power.

This paper aims to analyse this complex reality from a multidisciplinary perspective, examining how environmental changes are creating new opportunities and challenges, and how these intersect with emerging geopolitical dynamics involving traditional actors and new global players.

Link to the full paper: https://www.italienspr.com/focus-artico/