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Seal Hunting in the Canadian Arctic:Conflicting Perspectives on EU Regulation 1007/2009
Jírová, Anna ; Fiřtová, Magdalena (advisor) ; Kýrová, Lucie (referee)
On September 16, 2009 the European parliament adopted a Regulation (EC) 1007/2009 prohibiting the seal products from being imported and placed on the European Union market. Adoption of a Seal trade ban was a result of an effective anti-sealing lobby and increasing public concern over the perceivably cruel seal hunting methods that emerged in reaction to growing popularity of seal fur in early 2000s. Even though the Seal ban includes an exception for Inuit who hunt seals traditionally for subsistence and depend on monetary income to maintain their traditions, it proved to be highly ineffective as the demand for all seal products declined dramatically, threatening Inuit way of life in the process. The purpose of this thesis is to examine the key actors involved in the conflict, specifically the Inuit, the European Union, animal welfare NGOs and the Canadian government and to contextualize and analyze the specific narratives of the seal hunting discourse and their implications. By looking at the motivation and justification of the EU Seal ban as well as the implications of the different perspectives on the issue, this research will try to test the hypothesis that the seal hunting discourse is based on a colonial mindset and that decolonization of the mind is yet to be achieved by Western society.
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Visualization of the change of the Arctic glaciation using thematic cartographic technique
Havelka, Ondřej ; Žáková, Zuzana (advisor) ; Jaroš, Jakub (referee)
Ways of cartographic visualization of artic glaciation changes by using methods of thematic cartography Abstract The aim of this thesis is to make a research of available geographic data relates to the development of glaciation of the Artic and also to assess the suitability of selected methods of thematic cartography to represent geographical phenomenon: change of glaciation in time. The first part is devoted to detailed research of the available databases produced by foreign research organizations. This part is followed by research of Czech and foreign literature which is focused on cartographic visualization and methods of thematic cartography suitable for expression of dynamics phenomenon. In the conclusion are shown the ways of proper choice of data with relevant cartographic method, illustrated on the attached maps. Keyword: geographic data, thematic cartography methods, glaciation changes
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Artic as a regional security complex ( An application of regional security complex theory to the geopolitical region of the Artic in a broader context of regionalist approaches to international security)
Košatková, Iva ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
This thesis deals with the case of the Arctic which forms a distinctive geopolitical region within the international system. The geostrategic importance of the Arctic har become more salient due to global warming, technological progress and latest findings about large oil and gas resources, rich fishing waters and new maritime routes. The Arctic region is being classified through the lenses of one of the most influential regionalist concepts in the modern IR theory and international security studies - the regional security complex theory developed by Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver who represent the core of the so called Copenhagen school of IR thought. The main aim of the thesis is to examine whether such a specific geopolitical region as the Arctic could be analyzed from the perspective of this theory and defined as a regional security complex with a distinctive security dynamics and a dense net of linkages interconnecting major processes of securitization and desecuritization. This research question seeks to suggest a theoretical and analytical tool for studying the specific regional dynamics of the Arctic, and alternatively identify shortcomings of the theory in confrontation with the case and propose possible theoretical modifications. The thesis concludes that the Arctic can be classified as a...
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Applicability of Systemic Approach to the Analysis of Geostrategic Importance of a Transborder Region: the Arctic Case
Valková, Irena ; Romancov, Michael (advisor) ; Ženka, Jan (referee) ; Landovský, Jakub (referee)
The purpose of this dissertation is to demonstrate a new empirical and systemic geopolitical approach to the study of the ongoing territorial dispute in the Arctic resulting from the desire of two nation states, Denmark and Russia, to extend their own northernmost limits of the Exclusive Economic Zone to the central part of the Arctic Ocean. This approach combines geographic, legal and political analytical perspectives with quantitative research design to produce an inter-disciplinary study. Empirical evidence on the long-term socio-geographic development in the region (1993-2013) is provided together with information on particular territorial gains and losses for all decision-makers that arise in a number of potential scenarios (options). Variation in each decision-maker's aggregate national socio-geographic resource, as implied by particular territorial modifications in the central part of the Arctic Ocean, serves as a basis for derivation of nontrivial payoffs on each option in the dispute. These payoffs are introduced into a three-player graph model for conflict resolution (Denmark, Russia, and the World) and stable dispute solutions are suggested on the basis of different combinations of decision-makers' strategies, whose optimality is evaluated as well. Finally, alternative scenarios of...
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The United States, China, and the Emerging Balance of Power in the Arctic
Lavengood, Zachary Colin ; Hornát, Jan (advisor) ; Raška, Francis (referee)
The increasing pace of climate change in the last two decades has brought the Arctic, a former geopolitical afterthought, into growing prominence on the global stage. Receding ice and melting tundra have made a cornucopia of rare earth metals and hydrocarbons ripe for extraction as well as opened new shipping lanes which have the potential to revolutionize how goods are moved around the planet. In this emerging environment is a budding balance of power which involves the most powerful actors in the world-system, two of which, the United States of America and the People's Republic of China, are the focus of this thesis. Their respective arctic policies shape the balance of power for not only themselves, but for all other actors in the theater. The United States' laissez faire attitude towards the Arctic has caused it to fall behind the progress of other powers in the region which could make it difficult to assert its influence in the theater in the future. China however has chosen to follow an ambitious arctic policy despite its geographical distance from the region, and has given the arctic a prominent position in its greater Belt and Road project, much to the suspicion of traditional arctic powers. Analyzed through a realist lens, the balance of power in the Arctic appears to be stable for the...
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The Importance of the Arctic in International Relations
Kopečná, Anna ; Bečka, Jan (advisor) ; Šír, Jan (referee)
In recent years several factors changed the importance of the Arctic in international relations. Firstly, the rapid melting of Arctic ice cover opened potential access to vast natural resources within the Arctic Ocean seabed. It is estimated that the Arctic may contain one quarter of world's undiscovered reserves of oil and gas. Secondly, the water ways along the Russian and Canadian northern coasts became ice-free, although so far just for few days every year. Should the Arctic Ocean continue to melt, then in several decades the Northern Sea Route and the Northwest Passage could become navigable for greater part of the year. This would shorten the journey distance from Europe to Asia by as much as forty percent, thereby cutting travel times and shipping costs. Finally, as the Arctic does not belong to any single country, there has been an increasing interest among the Arctic rim states, which have been working on delineating their maritime boundaries in order to ensure their territorial claims. This process has proceeded in accordance with the international legal framework as established by the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Coastal states are entitled to a 200-nautical mile exclusive economic zone (EEZ) around their coastline. However, should they be able to prove...
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Holocene history of Arctic lakes
Roman, Matěj ; Nývlt, Daniel (advisor) ; Kavan, Jan (referee)
Holocene history of Arctic lakes Abstract Palaeolimnology in the Arctic has achieved a considerable progress in the last decades. The Arctic has changed markedly since the Last Glacial and glacier retreats caused formation of a great number of diverse lake types. Lakes of glacial origin, thermokarst lakes, fluvial lakes and lakes on raised beaches occur most often here. Palaeolimnological methods applied to the high latitude areas are used for the study of the history of individual lakes. Methods of correlation of sedimentary cores and basic interpretation of proxy records such as magnetic susceptibility, diatom biostratigraphy and content of carbon and sulphur were applied on sediments of Garmaksla Lake, Svalbard Archipelago. Climatic and ecological shifts including the Little Ice Age termination and recent warming were registered in proxy values. Keywords: lakes, palaeolimnology, palaeoclimatology, environmental changes, Holocene, Arctic
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Economic development of the Canadian Arctic and the impact of mining on Inuit
Švecová, Marianna ; Fiřtová, Magdalena (advisor) ; Šír, Jan (referee)
The bachelor thesis analyses and compares three main periods of the economic development in the Canadian Arctic, starting from the years 1950's until the end of the administrative of Prime Minister Harper in 2015. Mining of natural resources, as the base of the North's development, has been seen by the federal government also as a tool for cultural assimilation of Inuit into the dominant society. Nevertheless, participation of Inuit in mining activities and in fact in the whole employment culture has had serious impact on Aboriginal communities who have never been consulted about the federal strategy. However, while the first phase of development is characterized by strict colonialist approach of the government, the situation started to change during the second phase, characterized by a rising of Inuit's political participation and their first demonstrations of discontent. Although during the third, neoliberal era, several new mechanisms in order to improve the dialogue between Inuit, mining companies and the government were accepted, social conditions in Inuit communities remain below the Canadian average and with the government "laissez-faire" attitude they are not to be changed any time soon.
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Arctic as a regional security complex. An application of regional security complex theory to the Arctic region
Košatková, Iva ; Weiss, Tomáš (advisor) ; Karásek, Tomáš (referee)
This diploma thesis deals with the Arctic geopolitical region from the perspective of one of the most influential regionalist concepts in the modern IR theory and international security studies - the regional security complex theory developed by Barry Buzan and Ole Wæver from the Copenhagen Peace Research Institute. The main aim of the thesis is to examine whether such a specific geopolitical region as the Arctic could be analyzed from the perspective of this theory and defined as a regional security complex with a unique security dynamics and an intense interconnection of major processes of securitization and desecuritization. This research question seeks to suggest a theoretical and analytical tool for studying the specific regional dynamics of the Arctic, and alternatively identify shortcomings of the theory in confrontation with the case and propose possible theoretical modifications. The diploma thesis concludes that the Arctic can be classified as a regional security complex in terms of Buzan's and Wæver's theory, although as an emerging one with rather weak securitization interconnections yet with a big potential to develop into a strong and dynamic security complex. The application of the Arctic case to the theory however showed that there is a need for some theoretical modifications to make...
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The Impact of Climate Change on the Geopolitics of the Arctic Circle
Turnham, James ; Landovský, Jakub (advisor) ; Doboš, Bohumil (referee)
At the top of the world, worn like a crown, lies the Arctic. For much of human history it has been home to only a few hardy souls, eking out an existence in a cold unforgiving land. However, as the ages have marched by, man has attempted to explore and exploit the region as despite the Arctic's hostility, it contains a vast array of wealth. However, despite the richness of the land, remarkably little geopolitical competition has occurred above the Arctic Circle. The vast proportion of scholars and observers in the modern era have viewed the Arctic as a place where, perhaps uniquely, the quintessential regime of security dilemmas and competition between great powers, portrayed by realist scholars, has failed to manifest itself. However, as climate change wracks the region, seeing temperatures soar, the permafrost thaw, and the sea-ice rapidly becoming no more, the Arctic has reached a critical juncture where both the technology and the climate allow for an expanding human presence in the Arctic Circle and the economically viable exploitation of its wealth. This paper seeks to discover the impact of these drastic changes on the great power politics and potential future securitisation of the region.
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