REST 323 - Arctic Transformations

The Arctic is one of the most rapidly changing regions of the world today, environmentally, culturally, and politically. Rapid biophysical change occurs here today due to climate change, but equally noteworthy are cultural, social, and political transformations experienced by people living in the Arctic. Individuals and communities are under increasing pressure to change along with biophysical and socioeconomic transformation, particularly as new actors express interest in the Arctic and space opens up to global people and phenomena. Grappling with Arctic change means addressing complex issues related to social and biophysical changes, which often originate beyond the region but have specific meanings for the region. Within Russian and Eurasian regional studies, interest in the Arctic is long-standing and currently increasing with the “opening up” of this space due to climate change and the economic interest shown in it by global actors. Students examine environmental change, demographic shifts, human-environmental wellbeing, the ideas of security and cooperation as they relate to Arctic geopolitics, and the future of the Arctic. While the exclusive focus of the course is not on Russia, Russia’s role in Arctic transformations – especially politically and geographically – are highlighted concerning the actions and transformations occurring in other Arctic nations and other nations interested in Arctic transformations.

Credits: 1.00
Crosslisted:

GEOG 323

Corequisite: None
Prerequisites: None
Major/Minor Restrictions: None
Class Restriction: No First-year
Area of Inquiry: Social Relations,Inst.& Agents
Liberal Arts Practices: Confronting Collective Challenges and The Process of Writing
Core Component: None

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