Cold Front: Conflict Ahead in Arctic Waters

Cold Front: Conflict Ahead in Arctic Waters

The Arctic: land of ice and the six-month day; irresistible goal for explorers and adventurers; enduring source of romance and mystery - and now also a poignant and unavoidable indicator of the impact of climate change. As the ice cap shrinks, the geography of the entire Arctic region changes: clear shipping channels replace immovable ice and inaccessible oil resources become available. What will be the long-term consequences of these cataclysmic changes - not only environmental but also social and political? How will the lives of the many individuals who depend upon the natural resources of the Arctic be changed? And how will the global powers who wish to exploit the region's many assets respond? Cold Front is not just another attempt to predict the outcome of global warming. Instead it offers a clear-sighted and penetrating investigation of the Arctic's pivotal role in international relations, placing the polar region in its historical, political and legal context. The thawing of the ice-cap creates huge opportunities for trade and transport - and therefore also for conflict between the Arctic nations.

This important and timely addition to the literature on the region will be essential reading for anyone interested in humanity's effect on the Arctic - or the Arctic's effect on humanity.

• Foreword
• Introduction
• The Arctic arena
• Frozen Assets
• The law of the sea
• Strategic and military implications
• History
• The Russians in the Arctic
• Arctic navigation
• The Northern Sea Route (NE Passage) today
• The North West Passage today
• Assessment
• A chronology

David Fairhall was the Guardian's Defence Correspondent throughout much of the Cold War and has written extensively on maritime subjects. His previous books include Russia Looks to the Sea (1971), Black Tide Rising: the Wreck of the Amoco Cadiz (with Philip Jordan, 1980) and Common Ground: the Story of Greenham (2006).

A masterful assessment of the fast-changing Arctic.
– John Vidal, Environment Editor, the Guardian

Cold Front gets the story right! The story is not just about arctic sea ice retreat, but also about globalization and natural resource development driving future arctic marine transport.
– Lawson Brigham, Professor of Geography and Arctic Policy, University of Alaska Fairbanks and Chair of the Arctic Council's Arctic Marine Shipping Assessment (2005–09)

Cold Front provides a fascinating and often intriguing account of the Arctic, both its history and its future.  For anyone who wants to know more about the Arctic this well written and informative book provides both insight and answers.
– The Rt Hon Lord David Owen CH

Imprint: I.B.Tauris
Publisher: I.B.Tauris & Co Ltd

Hardback
ISBN: 9781848853843
Publication Date: 30 Oct 2010
Number of Pages: 256
Height: 216
Width: 134