Different images of the Arctic, and the circumpolar North in world politics

There are, and have been, different and competing ways to see and define the Arctic, the circumpolar North, from a pure colonial images of a frozen and extreme area of natural resources and a "military theatre" to a homeland and an educated and modern North. Many of these images of the Arctic are traditional and made by "outsiders", which makes the relationship between the Arctic and the outside world important and interesting. 'This has been shaped by the heightened strategic importance of the circumpolar North, utilization of (and competition over) strategic natural resources, and the impacts of global change and globalization on the region. This article discusses the common and shared images of the Arctic and the North-South, i.e. arctic-outside world, relations, and describes the circumpolar North in world politics. It argues that in addition to the negative impacts of global problems and flows of globalization (from the point of view of the region and regional actors), some positive developments have emerged, and are emerging, that make the circumpolar North an interesting and relevant area in world politics. Therefore, in addition to the growing geostrategic importance of northern energy resources and transportation routes (both of which are defined as good or bad), there are the scientific view of the North as a "workshop" for research, the diversity of Northern nature and cultures, the area as a stable and peaceful region and finally, the perspective to define the North as a potential "Innovation Center".