Political Narratives of the High North

Friday September 2nd, 2016

A day-long workshop of keynote presentations and discussion in advance of the 2016 Senior Arctic Officials Meeting in Portland, Maine (October 4-6). Taking the 2017 Arctic Council Chairmanship transition from the United States to Finland as an entry point, the conference will examine how narratives of the North affect political thought, action, and relations. The workshop will broaden conversation on the Arctic Council and regional polar governance structures beyond policymaking and international relations theory to include a narrative dimension. We will discuss the creation, dissemination, reception, and consequences of various politicized Arctic narratives.

The morning session will focus on Periphery and Homeland in the Arctic while the afternoon will focus on Nationalism and Internationalism in the Arctic, with interactive workshops, roundtable discussions, and presentations.

Key Objectives:

1. To create an international, sustained network of policymakers, scholars, and practitioners addressing the importance of narratives in decision making about the Arctic region
2. To promote awareness of the power of narratives ahead of the Senior Arctic Officials meeting in Portland, Maine
3. To facilitate meaningful dialog around the 2017 Arctic Council chairmanship transition