Special Political and Decolonization Committee Topic Bulletin

ACADEMY MODEL UNITED NATIONS THE NINETEENTH SESSION

Academy Model United Nations February 1 - February 2, 2018

Hi Delegates!

My name is Jessie Ko and I would like to welcome you to the 19th Academy Model United Nations! I am honored to serve as your head chair for the Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL). I am currently a senior in the Academy of Medical Science Technology, also known as AMST. I have been participating in Model UN since freshmen year. At first, I didn’t realize that Model UN was a debate club! Before high school, I never had a chance to participate in debate. For me, debating was nerve wracking at first because I wasn’t used to getting up in front of people to share my ideas. However, I decided to give it a chance, so I first joined the Model UN club with my friends who were very passionate about international affairs and debate. I was just a tag along as I wasn't sure of what kind of clubs I wanted to join at first. Through this experience, I have realized that I have passion for international affairs. This passion has motivated me to attend high school and even the college conferences later on. Actually, AMUN was my first ever conference to attend! Through AMUN and other conferences, I was able to grow my leadership skills as I stood before many to talk during moderated caucuses and worked with my fellow debaters during unmoderated caucuses. Along the way, I have not only won awards but made new friends throughout these conferences from all over the country. Besides Model UN, I am also involved in Environmental Science Club, cell biology research, and competition cheerleading. Outside of school, I personally enjoy listening music, going shopping, and hanging out with my friends. I sincerely hope that you will enjoy AMUN XIX and I will work hard to make sure of that. If you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to email me. Prepare to have a great time!

Sincerely, Jessie Ko, SPECPOL Chair younko@bergen.org

SECRETARIAT

Christian Rodríguez Secretary General

Grace Huang Chargé d’ Affairs

Simas Chacar-Palubinskas Director of Operations

Alex Blumenfeld Emily Mayo Directors of External Relations

Lucy Choi Director of Internal Relations

Lily Ge Director of Business

Franchesca Inay Director of Administration

June Hong Moritz Reichert Directors of Crisis

FACULTY ADVISORS

Andrea Buccino Mark Kramer

INTRODUCTION

The Fourth Committee of the United Nations, also known as The Special Political and Decolonization Committee (SPECPOL) was dedicated to the peaceful and continued division

of the crumbling post WWII empires. In the beginning, SPECPOL was responsible for territories that were under the supervision of UN until they became independent nations. As

the time passed, SPECPOL began to take over some of the issues that used to concern Disarmament and International Security Committee (DISEC). This allowed DISEC to carry on

their duties more efficiently in the field of military. Consequently, SPECPOL is involved with

international political issues. Today, SPECPOL works on a myriad of issues including working with refugees, human rights, peacekeeping, public information, atomic radiation, and even

outer space. As a committee, we will be simulating the discussions world representatives have at

SPECPOL meetings, each attempting to advance their nation’s interests and make sure that their voices are heard. As a reminder, SPECPOL does not have the jurisdiction to implement

policies; the main purpose of the committee is to discuss the potential recommendations that could be considered to promote the best possible outcome. Finally, it is crucial to think about

national sovereignty as it is an integral part of the committee.

TOPIC A: GLOBAL IMPACTS OF MIDDLE EASTERN CONFLICT

Overview Since the settlement between Tigris and Euphrates Rivers, the Middle East region has been occupied for thousands of years. The majority of people in the region practice some

branch of Islam, a religion founded in Arabia by Mohammed during the 7th century. Adherents believe that Mohammed was the last prophet of Allah (“God” in Arabic). Islam is a

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monotheistic religion related to Judaism and Christianity with followers spread across much of the Middle East along with parts of Africa, India, Europe, and Asia. Key tenets of the

religion are derived from mostly four sources: the Qurʾān (literary “Readings”), the Sunnah

(“Traditions”), ijmāʿ (“consensus”), and ijtihād (“individual thought”). The Qur’an is said to be

the written word of Allah that was delivered to Mohammed.

Topic History Despite this religious uniformity, the Middle East is far from unified. Due to millennia of

conflict and interactions between different groups, the of the political atmosphere complex and frequently fractious. Even within Islam, the two primary religious groups - the Sunnis and

Shiites - are often at odds with one another, even at a geopolitical level. Grudges and grievances can run deep between the peoples of different nations, some spanning centuries.

With that in mind, only few significant events that occurred in the Middle East will be highlighted in this section of the topic guide - further reading is advised.

From the time of Crusades to the current day, Middle Eastern political structure have been heavily influenced by interactions with Western powers. Perhaps most significant was

the signing of the Sykes-Picot treaty, which carved up the Ottoman empire between the

British and French spheres of influence after the First World War. After the Second World War and decolonizations, many of those same boundaries drawn by the treaty became borders

of newly independent nations. However, as with other boundaries drawn by Western imperial powers, they did not necessarily take into account the populations living inside, nor the ones

they divided. As a result, much ethnic and sectarian strife between minority groups and the majority could be traced back to the shortcomings of the decolonization process. In addition,

anti-Western sentiment can also be traced back to memories of Imperialism. Another hotbed of contention was the foundation of Israel. While many Jews were

already living in British Palestine, an influx of Jewish immigrants and refugees arrived after

the end of WWII and the Holocaust. This exacerbated existing tensions between Jews and the largely Muslim Palestinians. After a UN attempt to divide the land into two states failed, war

ensued. Zionist militias and armies eventually carried the day, repelling both Palestinian forces

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and neighboring Arab forces. Continuing strain between Arab and Israeli populations and their backers remain controversial.

At the same time, the Middle East is dotted by proxy conflicts between the largely Sunni Saudi Arabia and the mostly Shiite Iran. These two regional powers vie for dominance over

the region, calling upon larger powers as their backers (USA and Russia) while also exerting influence over smaller nations in their sphere. Furthermore, both of these nations and their

allies frequently (covertly or otherwise) fund smaller radical groups to further their own ends,

proliferating terrorism.

Current Situation In recent years, the Middle East has been rocked by the “Arab Spring”, a series of a protests and revolts that toppled or severely destabilized dictatorships in Tunisia, Libya,

Egypt, Syria, and Yemen. The Arab Spring signifies the Middle East taking one step further in

changing their political ideologies. It started in early 2011 in Tunisia and Egypt, where there were massive protests that eventually forced their leaders to abdicate. This event encouraged

and motivated other surrounding neighbors to bolster their movements as well. The protesters who joined the movement were those who demanded political reform and regime

change. Most parts in the Middle East embraced authoritarian rule for a long time. However, everything was about to change as the protests began to undermine and even abolish a

number of authoritarian governments. There are various factors that contributed to the emergence of the Arab Spring. To begin,

one of the possible explanation for the Arab Spring is the socioeconomic development.The demographic expansion in Middle East played a key role in stimulating such development.

According to UNDP, the population tripled from 1970 to 2010; about 41 percent of the

population are considered living below the poverty line and 30 percent of the people are between ages 20 and 35. With better technology, education system improved but people lost

their jobs at the same time. Consequently, with plenty of people experiencing unemployment and the pressure of living under rising costs, there were good amount of people who were

furious over their corrupted rulers and policies. Social media was another factor that led to the

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Arab Spring. The feeling of hatred that people felt before the boom of technology was still present. However, with technology people were able to share their resentment globally to

anyone at anytime. This spread the word to those who shared same beliefs, which allowed people all over to form movements against their authoritarian government. Aside from

socioeconomic and technological development, the belief of Karama, or human dignity, encouraged people to protest. In 2011, Egypt held its first major protest. Thousands of people

were gathered at Tahrir Square in Cairo and courageously said “bread, freedom and human

dignity”. By saying this chant, protesters sought political change that allowed them to get jobs, independent from their social class.

The Arab Spring did not only impact the Middle East but also affected other countries. For example, United States and Europe had developed a system of mutual alliance with the

Middle East autocracy: in return for ignoring the authoritarian regimes, United States and Europe would secure strategic interests in the Middle East concerning influx of oil and policy

regarding terrorism. As political revolution began to take place in the MIddle East, it resulted in many challenges for Europe and United States to face. Some of the obstacles included the

decline of their alliances with the dictators, uncertainty about oil influx, and their fear of illegal migration from the Middle East. Also, the shift in politics from the dictatorship may result in

communication becoming harder between two nations. For example, United States would

have to address the whole Arab community as opposed to a few authoritarian leaders. Without a doubt, the Middle East has a long and complicated history There are different

things going on in different countries even today. For instance, in Lebanon, President Michel Suleiman is currently the leader and the citizens of Lebanon follow the parliamentary

democracy as their political system. On the other hand, Saudi Arabia’s political system is still an absolute monarchy under the rule of King Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al-Saud. They remain

firm in their beliefs, but there has been a growing uneasiness over succession of power from the present royal family. As it can be seen, in the Middle East, there are various political

reforms and statuses that are embraced. Therefore, it might be beneficial to look at current policies of more countries in the Middle East to get a fuller picture of the current situation as a

whole.

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The main problem with ongoing political changes in the Middle East is the growing tension between the government and the people. Syrian Crisis, which began after the Arab

Spring, is a primary example of violence that is going on in the Middle East between those who promote pro-democracy and other who do not. According to UN, the number of people

who had been killed in the conflict has risen to 250,000 by the year 2015, which is about 4 years after the conflict began. With chemical weapons and violent actions, there are many

people who are suffering from the ongoing political changes. Not only is the violence affecting

the Middle East, but it is influencing foreign countries as well. This will be further discussed in Bloc Positions.

Possible Solutions When seeking a resolution to any of the crises in the Middle East, it is crucial to find a

palatable agreement for all parties. At the very least, each nation must save face - though a

more ambitious emissary will seek to squeeze out as many concessions from their rivals as possible. Different nations have different stakes involved in this situation that dictate just how

much they can afford to compromise. Nations outside of the Middle East, for example, can afford to accept a negotiated settlement not quite in their side’s favor, as their people have

little to do with the matter. However, for other nations, the current wars and crises are a matter of national identity and are depending on a victory for support at home and abroad.

For Saudi Arabia and Iran, any ground lost in Syria and Yemen would be a massive blow to their national pride and affect their future ability to recruit allies. Likewise, the United States

and the Russian Federation have spent billions of dollars and sizable amounts of political capital backing their proxies, and are expecting to gain something tangible in any agreement.

Finally, those fighting to maintain their own sovereignty, security, or even existence such as

Syria, Iraq, and Yemen - are the least likely to compromise: they have little to give. Keeping these parameters in mind, each delegate should consider first “what is the least

my nation is willing to gain?” and “what is the most?”. A partition plan for a fractured state may be an acceptable solution for some nations, but not all. Likewise, keeping the status quo

may appeal to those on the defensive, but the tides of change are constantly pushing along.

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Bloc Positions

Delegates, keep in mind that the bloc positions below are focused on the viewpoints related to Syrian Crisis. As it can be seen, the ongoing political changes in the Middle East is a

broad topic. The Syrian Crisis is a good starting point to effectively give you an idea of where

certain countries stand on the idea of Middle East going through drastic political changes to overthrow authoritarian regime. When delegates are discussing their country’s position, they

should focus on other crises as well to get a better picture of their position as a whole on this topic.

Russian Federation When the protests began after Arab Springs, Russia’s actions have shown that it supports the authoritarian regime to remain since it allows Russia to maintain their interests in the Middle

East. Russia seeks to protects its basing rights at Syria ports - essential for their ability to

project military force in the region. Ignoring the international criticism for helping President Assad, Russia continued to supply weapons and direct military support to his forces.

United States United States of America has shown that it supports the the National Coalition, an opposing

force against President Assad, in the Syrian Crisis and has provided limited military assistance. Also, since 2014 America has been careful about conducting airstrikes on IS and jihadist

groups to avoid any strikes that could benefit President Assad. America believes that there needs to be some sort of negotiated settlement in order to find peace and form a transitional

government.

Turkey Turkey is a strong supporter of the Arab rebels. They believe that Syrians should not have to

accept a leader who killed more than 350,00 people. Turkey has shown their sympathy by

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hosting more than two million refugees. However, the Turkish government is wary of the Kurds and their attempts at establishing their own state, as a significant Kurdish minority

exists within Turkish borders. They have protested US attempts at arming Kurdish forces, claiming links to Kurdish terrorist groups. Furthermore, strains have begun to develop with

their relationship with the United States, as President Erdogan has attempted to consolidate power is a series of controversial referendums.

Iran Iran is a prominent supporter of President Assad, supplying weapons and diplomatic support. Syria is a key ally in the region, and allows them a channel in which to funnel weapons to

Hezbollah. Iran is the largest Shiite state in the Middle East, and is the patron of many Shiite groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. Iran has spent billions of dollars providing military support

and oil to pro-Assad forces in Syria, and is at frequent odds with the United States and Saudi Arabia. A defeat in Syria would be a blow to Iranian prestige in the region as they challenge

Saudi and American hegemony.

France France seems to support the process of negotiation to resolve the Syrian Crisis. As France

believes, there will be no peace until all Syrians are satisfied with the terms of the possible negotiation. France is also a huge supporter of humanitarian assistance to refugees. France is

one of the countries that focus on how to solve the issue rather than taking a side.

China China has remained objective but realistic views on the crisis. China is consistently making

efforts to promote peace and trying to encourage settlement to resolve the issue. Although China hasn’t been a strong presence in the issue, they have attempted to aid the refugees in

need of help through humanitarian assistance.

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Ghana Ghana has been very understanding in terms of providing assistance to the refugees. Although there was tension between Ghana residents and the government for accepting the refugees to

settle, it has been reported that the Syrian Community in Ghana is funding for the accommodation of the refugees.

Questions to Consider 1. What is my country’s position regarding ongoing political changes in the Middle East?

2. Should countries outside of the Middle East intervene to support or oppose the change in the Middle East?

3. How can I exploit the shifting of politics in the Middle East to my nation’s advantage? 4. What are some ways that peace can still be maintained despite the new political changes

in some Middle East countries? 5. Is the ongoing political changes the best choice to make the world a better place? 6. What is the extent to which the United Nations can regulate the issue of altering political

ideologies in the Middle East without violating national sovereignty? 7. Should countries risk the tremendous number of casualties and high death rates to change

the existing political ideals? How can these casualties be lowered? 8. Should other other countries support the refugees from countries in the Middle East who

are currently at war? If so, how should countries aid the refugees?

References 1. http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-26116868 2. https://www.giga-hamburg.de/en/system/files/publications/wp203_beck-hueser.pdf 3. http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/view/the-politics-of-change-in-the-

middle-east 4. https://www.thoughtco.com/how-the-arab-spring-started-2353633 5. http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/Eastern-Question/31818 6. http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/Sykes-Picot-Agreement/70695 7. http://academic.eb.com/levels/collegiate/article/Arab-Spring/570981

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TOPIC B: TERRITORIAL DISPUTES IN THE ARCTIC

Overview Among the territorial ambitions of global powers throughout history, a significant amount of focus has been oriented towards a single coveted piece of territory: the Arctic.

Covering a portion of eight countries, the Arctic is an expanse of land in the northern polar

region of our world and is desired and claimed by a number of countries for its strategic and resourceful advantages. Interestingly, however, the dispute over the Arctic territory has been

relatively subtle, and with the help of international cooperation and agreement, the territory has been so far handled peacefully and appropriately. This, however, is subject to change with

recent developments and occurrences.

Topic History Exploration of the Arctic region dates back to as far as 10,000 years ago, when the Inuit

tribe inhabited the region. These hunter-gatherers were the first settlers of the polar land. It is compelling to note that before the 15th century, indigenous peoples were the sole inhabitants

of all parts of the Arctic, including those in North America, Greenland, and even Russia. Following the growth of global entities in the 15th century, European explorers from

Russia, Norway, Finland, and more expanded their nations to the north, inhabiting and settling in what is now known as the Arctic region. Significantly, the nation of Russia acquired

and established authority in areas such as Siberia and Muscovy. In addition, these early settlers, indigenous and foreign, were exclusively established in the area solely for residency;

however, this would be changed in the Age of Exploration of the 16th century. The potential

for the Arctic land was first realized with the establishment of trade routes for the sale of fur to the European nations. During this time period, the British and French established their

Arctic settlements with the exploration of northern land in the Americas. In addition, the Age of Exploration brought in new desires of routes and methods of transportation, with explorers

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from a diverse array of countries attempting to find routes in the Arctic itself. The 19th century followed with the military power of the United States demonstrated with the sale of

Alaska from the Russians to the United States. The United States was growing in the polar region. By the late 19th century, the assimilation of the native population began. In an

occurrence parallel to those happening in the United States at the time, the forceful removal of the indigenous population resulted in social and medical problems of those evicted from their

native land. In addition, the 19th century saw the peak of exploration capabilities with the

discovery of the Northeast Passage in 1876 and the famous explorer Ronald Amundsen discovering the Northwest Passage in 1906. Today, these routes are coveted and vital trade

lines; the continued melting of snow and ice in the region has made these routes more accessible and thus, more useful.

With the expanding growth and use of the polar region, the 20th century finally revealed the true potential for the Arctic land, and with that, its ability to provoke conflict. In as early

as the 1900’s Canada proposed plans to “make a formal declaration of the land and islands north of the dominion”. In an ironic turn of events, the Canadian government dismissed these

claims due to the “uselessness of the land in question.” However, the 20th century saw the claim of the Arctic land begin to happen. Nations such as Russia had official permits for

residency in northern Arctic lands, while even more blatantly Norway began drilling the area

for natural resources. By the 1930’s countries such as the USSR, Norway, United States, and Canada all made

their own territorial claims in the Arctic region. The true potential for trade, natural resources, and strategic advantages of the region were realized. Most of these territorial claims

were not fully realized; interestingly, these matters were not pressed. However, in 1969, the UN Convention on the Continental Shelf was passed. This act guaranteed that all resources,

including natural was given to the countries which owned the continental shelf. This gave rights to countries who had claims on the Arctic lands and the corresponding resources. In

addition, the boundaries of the ownership of the Arctic was established with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which stated that the radius of 200 nautical miles of a

country’s coastline, and more if these 200 miles consist of continental shelf. The economic

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resources pertaining to these areas belonged to the country in correspondence. As a result, the late 20th century saw the drilling and pumping of oil from these regions. In response, the

Arctic Council was formed; its purpose remains to resolve and mediate over any issues that arise in the region. It consisted of the native people and the eight countries involved.

However, the question of the land that is not within 200 miles of the country’s coastline soon came into question.

Current SituationWith Arctic melting at an alarming rate, countries’ territorial disputes are increasing as

they want to benefit economically by drilling massive amounts of oil and natural gas.

According to U.S. Geological Survey, more than 80 percent of quarter of Earth’s undiscovered fossil fuel is underneath the Arctic Circle. The ice barrier is what kept countries from fighting

aggressively. However, with ice barrier decreasing due to warm climate, territorial disputes between countries are now even more inevitable.

To begin, Canada has approached the conflict in a different manner than other countries.

Rather than putting its flag in the North Pole, it insists that its territory goes well beyond northward into the Arctic. As Canada set an example to this alternative method into claiming

the ownership of Arctic Circle, Soviet Union did the same thing the following year. However, as things became more unstable new approach was needed. That is when the the Convention

of the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) called for peaceful solution in 1982. With this treaty, to what degree a country can declare territory from its shores was clarified.

As mentioned before, the Arctic Ocean is believed to contain large amounts of oil that many companies have sought to exploit. However, in an effort to fight global warming, the

United States and Canada have both decided to ban further drilling in the Arctic in 2015. In

the case of the former, the ban is permanent and applies to US claims in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas. However, this is subject to be changed by the new administration. The

Canadians have enacted a ban on all Arctic waters, though it is subject to be reviewed in five years. Both nations have also resolved to close low impact shipping corridors.

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Still, interest in the Arctic has begun to spike once again with renewed vigor. Several countries - Russia, the United States, Canada, Denmark, and Norway - have shown interest

and tried to claim the Arctic territory. Without a doubt, the tension between countries is increasing. In 2017, the number of exploration wells has reached record heights. The

Norwegian oil industry, which accounts of 13% of state revenue, in particular has sought out drilling sites in the Barents Sea. In addition to this, Russia has decided to take a more

aggressive approach. For example, Russia has deployed a significant number of troops in the

Arctic Circle, and they are fully prepared to drill for natural resources. Russia’s bold approach toward the domination of the Arctic Circle is alarming the United States. Currently, US is

struggling to catch up to Russia’s presence in the Arctic. However, the battle is not only between Russia and US. It has been reported that China is also fascinated by the Arctic Circle’s

economic potential. Chinese research vessels have been spotted in the Arctic as they continue to investigate ways to discover new effective sea routes. As it can be seen, the Arctic Circle is

attracting many countries due to its possession of natural resources and ice barrier melting. With this in mind, the countries will continue fighting over the jurisdiction of the Arctic

Circle. In order to effectively analyze the Arctic conflict, national sovereignty, safety of the actual extraction process, environmental problems, and country’s individual beliefs should all

be considered.

Possible Solutions Like many territorial issues among the world, legislation is necessary to further dictate

and scrutinize on vague territorial claims and definitions that are currently present. Currently, even the United States has not As mentioned, although the 200 miles off of a coastline of a

country is dictated to be theirs, the extension of the 200 miles is quite vague. If a country can

somehow prove that the “continental shelf” of the area extend beyond 200 miles then the territory is theirs; an incredibly arbitrary method of deciding if a piece of land belongs to a

certain country’s. In addition to crystallizing scientific definitions for boundaries, implementation of a code of conduct regarding sourcing of economic resources and usage is

suggested. This code must cover not only land resources, but those in the sea as well. As a

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prominent factor regarding the Arctic region is the environment, certain restrictions or guides would demonstrate initiative in protecting the climate; a prominent role of the United Nations

in history. In general, restrictions on activity which are dangerous to sovereignty of nations, whether it be environmental or belligerent, should be considered.

In addition to legislation, a physical implementation of the regulations must be created. Scientific data, as well as inspections of territorial claims must be reviewed. In addition to

examining the territorial aspects, environmental resources will be necessary to measure

emissions. Geographically, monitoring of activity within the region is necessary, especially with the recent violations and uncertainty surrounding the regions (for example, military

exercises in Canada). Finally, a revision or implementation of a council or mediating body can be considered.

Although the Arctic Council exists, it currently holds almost no significance surrounding issues in correspondence with the area. A revision of the current status quo would ensure the

peace and stability of the region for not only current purposes, but for the future as well.

Bloc Positions Eastern Europe, especially Russia, wants to explore the potential benefits of the Arctic

Circle. This bloc will most likely have strong desire to gain new territory, but will make sure that they do not ignore the international law that has been established. In addition, it is

probable that countries like Russia will not look favorably upon others putting political or environmental restriction on what they can do and what they cannot. However, this does not

mean that these countries will resist collaboration with other nations as long as their goals are respected and untouched.

It can be inferred that the Scandinavian countries will encourage international

involvement in regards to the Arctic Circle. Scandinavian countries also seek peaceful establishment of the region. Also, Western European countries such as Norway will approve

of military development in the Arctic Circle to establish their presence but also limit forces like Russia from completely dominating the region.

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Canada is a great example of a country in which it wants to promote sovereignty over the Arctic as well as develop socially and economically in that region. However, because Canada is

a supporter of peaceful establishment, it is concerned about countries like Russia. Russia is beginning to have strong presence in the region through establishment of more military bases,

which may threaten Canada’s goal. Therefore, Canada is likely to work with international communities such as NATO to set limitation and boundaries to countries like Russia.

The US, just like other countries, is fascinated by the Arctic Circle. US seeks to access the

resources in the Arctic Circle. However, unlike countries like Russia, US is willing to approach the issue of jurisdiction over the Arctic territory in a tranquil manner. US wants to limit

countries like Russia who are attempting to establish a strong dominance over the region. As a result, US is most likely to work with other nations and international committees. Aside from

limiting the power of nations who are becoming too oppressive in the region, US is also concerned with environmental risk that comes with drilling the Arctic. However, concern for

environment that results from drilling contradicts with the goal of energy companies, so this is another issue to take into consideration.

Countries in East Asia - such as China, South Korea, and Japan -joined the Arctic Council as observers in 2013. East Asian countries are primarily worried with discovering faster sea

routes. Furthermore, as these countries are some of the rapidly developing nations, their need

for new energy supplies are tremendous. Due to their desire to gain more energy sources, they will be less concerned about environmental factor of drilling the Arctic territory.

Questions to Consider 1. How effective and crucial is the Arctic Council? What are some changes that could be

made to the way it runs or its policies?

2. What are some ways that the country’s desire to find new energy resources and to protect

further environmental damage can both be taken into account to establish an effective resolution?

3. Does the need for new energy source outweigh the hazardous environmental effect of the process?

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4. How safe is it to drill in the territory of the Arctic Circle? Should countries risk their people’s safety? What are some things that could be enforced or taken into account to

make sure that accidents can be avoided? 5. In what way is the indigenous people related or involved in the Arctic Circle dispute

6. What are some analytic methods to mediate or outline the proper terms of territory dispute?

7. What are the most feasible and collusive strategies in resolving the issue at hand? 8. How is the current international political climate contributing to the resolution of these

issues, if at all?

9. What are some external factors aside from the Arctic that are contributing to the issue?

References 1. http://www.un.org/en/ga/fourth/index.shtml 2. http://www.sciencealert.com/this-map-shows-all-country-s-claims-on-the-arctic-

seafloor 3. http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/trudeau-obama-arctic-1.3905933 4. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2017-05-03/where-the-arctic-oil-industry-

is-booming 5. https://www.economist.com/news/international/21636756-denmark-claims-north-pole-

frozen-conflict 6. http://www.ogj.com/articles/print/volume-109/issue-6/exploration-development/

territorial-disputes-and-natural-resources.html 7. http://digitalcommons.mainelaw.maine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?

article=1100&context=oclj

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