The battle for the North Pole

Michael Paul: The Battle for the North Pole. The Arctic, climate change and the rivalry of the superpowers, Herder Verlag, Freiburg im Breisgau 2022

In German-speaking countries, there are individual analyses of the history of the Arctic, the possible challenges of climate change with the melting of the ice cap at the pole and on Greenland, the possible future use of the Arctic Ocean for shorter sea transport routes from Europe to Asia, the possible extraction of oil and gas from the depths of the sea and the legal dispute over the extent of national waters and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). However, no author has yet attempted to link these individual aspects together and, above all, to assess the growing conflict between the neighbouring states of Russia and the USA with the interests of the People's Republic of China in their contradictions.

In his introductory chapter "The Arctic", Paul already combines security policy considerations on history, economics, ecology, geophysics, geopolitics, maritime significance, great power interests versus the interests of the neighbouring countries, the curse and blessing of tourism, the protection of people and wildlife, and the question "What interests Germany in the Arctic?"

In the following chapter, he meticulously analyses the players and their ambitions, starting with the Arctic Council. This is followed by observations on cooperation and competition between the Arctic states and the special interests of the indigenous peoples. This is followed by assessments of the observer states in the Arctic Council, such as the "Middle Arctic state" China, the Asian and European observer states and the special case of the European Union.

In his concluding chapter "Prospects: A new Cold War?" he briefly describes the Arctic security dilemma and advocates conflict prevention through dialogue and cooperation.

An additional strength of the book is the selected bibliography included by the author and his numerous endnotes.

Taken together, this represents the author's outstanding achievement in presenting an extremely complex topic. It is still not in the headlines, so that those responsible in politics, business, science and ecology have enough time for a thorough reading and subsequent discussion of the subject. The fact that the effects of climate change can become a danger to people and the environment more quickly than many politicians hope should be a reminder that we need to think in and for the future. And this thinking must be global and comprehensive. For our own country, this means finally thinking geopolitically.

Jopp