1: Setting Up the Stage: The North American Arctic

The Arctic has been very much present in the relatively recent international politics. Although initially perceived as an area of the Cold War competition, after the geopolitical transformation and climate change it became a subject of international competition and cooperation. Chapter 1 deals with geography, history, and perceptions of the Arctic and examines definitions as well as parameters and the notion of sovereignty pertaining to the region, not exuding the all-important issue of economy. It attempts to present the terminology as accurately as possible and as necessary for the purpose of this work, and consists to a large degree of a review of the literature, with some preferences of the authors. It is absolutely necessary to establish the parameters, or the metalanguage, in order to discuss the issues connected with the Arctic, with the absolute certainty and full understanding that even then, there will remain doubts and diverging opinions. This section attempts to present what is understood by the term “the Arctic” and especially what constitutes the North American Arctic today. By this it delineates the stage for the application of the Nash game theory.