Lectures of Opportunity: "Arctic Melting Ice While Making Law: The Evolving Legal Order of the Arctic"

About this lecture series

Lectures of Opportunity (LOOs) offer Naval War College (NWC) students, faculty, and staff an opportunity to learn more about national and international socio-political subjects that may be of relevance to the NWC community.

Synopsis

Arctic prescriptions and institutions are increasingly shaped by cryosphere conditions. As conditions change, the Arctic becomes more accessible; with increased access follow claims to control by state and non-state actors. With Arctic interests pertaining to defense, navigation, trade and the environment, the interactions between interested actors are subject to legal processes and regulations that are national, regional and international. Where accord is not possible, melting ice may be a source of conflict between and among polar and non-polar states. This lecture will appraise the trends and plausible futures of the law and policy of the Arctic.