United States: Making Arctic Nation

This research paper analyzes the evolution of United States Arctic policy during the Obama presidency and across a longer historical perspective, focusing on the shift from reluctance to active engagement in regional cooperation and the changing frames of national interest.

• During its 2015–2017 chairmanship of the Arctic Council, the United States transitioned from being a 'reluctant Arctic actor' to an active proponent of cooperation, utilizing the Arctic region to demonstrate strong global climate policy.
• Analysis of US Arctic policy discourses reveals that while economic development and national competitiveness remain prominent recurring frames, the focus has shifted from military security and nation-building toward a broader security perspective that includes US energy supply and the effects of climate change.
• There has been a distinct historical shift in the United States' approach to Arctic regional cooperation, moving from a position of reluctance to one of embrace, with the document noting that varying positions on climate change have historically influenced and may continue to influence this cooperation.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2018). United States: Making Arctic Nation. https://www.sei.org/publications/united-states-making-arctic-nation/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. United States: Making Arctic Nation. 2018. https://www.sei.org/publications/united-states-making-arctic-nation/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=United States: Making Arctic Nation |date=23 May 2018 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/united-states-making-arctic-nation/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2018united, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{United States: Making Arctic Nation}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2018}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/united-states-making-arctic-nation/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }