Arctic research: actors, priorities and drivers at national and international levels

There has been a steady increase in Arctic research output since the mid-1990s, although not above the general growth in global scientific production. This chapter discusses what drives the Arctic research priorities of different states, and how such priorities are influenced by political processes at the international level. At the national level, we distinguish between foreign-policy and domestic objectives. Most importantly, states’ general political priorities are reflected in their Arctic policies, including research policies, often determined by geographical location, physical attributes and composition of the population. Arctic politics hence becomes a new instrument for the articulation of state interest and ambitions. Arctic politics is also an arena for the cultivation of states’ Arctic identities, whether confirming and reproducing a traditional Arctic identity or establishing or branding a new identity as ‘Arctic’. National governments tend to prioritise applied Arctic research while international organisations mainly promote basic research. Business development is the single most dominant priority area at national level, followed by climate change.