The Arctic: Strategic Priorities of Circumpolar Countries

The article is concerned with topical issues of the Arctic governance. The main motives of the growing interest of the world community to this region are revealed. A comparative analysis of the conceptual framework and key priorities of the Arctic policy of the Russian Federation and other circumpolar powers based on the study of their national Arctic strategies was treated. The main difference of the Russian model of the Arctic management is the priority of the exploitation of natural resources, while the policy of foreign countries is aimed primarily at the sustainable development of the Arctic territories. In our opinion, practical implementation of the model when the state vector of the Arctic policy is focused primarily on the social component as the basis for the integrated balanced development of the Arctic zone and ensuring the national security of this country is more advisable for Russia. That is, the implementation of the sustainable development model of the Arctic territories, the main elements of such are rational and careful environmental management in the Arctic; limiting the negative impact on the environment and preserving biodiversity; focusing national policies not only on the indigenous, but also on the local population; improving their quality and living standards; close international cooperation at the municipal, regional and world levels. This study was supported by the Russian Science Foundation, project № 19-18-00025.