THE IMPACT OF THE NATIONAL ARCTIC POLICY ON THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATIONS OF RUSSIA’S POLAR REGIONS

Abstract

The article deals with the socio-economic dynamics of the Russian Arctic in the context of national policy and scientific views on the priorities, tasks, opportunities, and limitations of development. The fundamental importance and relevance of the presented research is determined by a series of fundamental problems that accompany the processes of development of the Russian Arctic, and the simultaneous increase in the importance of this territory for the national economy of Russia. The research methodology consists of three approaches: 1) critical generalization of policies, declarations, historical facts on development processes in the Arctic; 2) surveys of the population of the Arctic region of the Murmansk Oblast; 3) analysis of statistical data characterizing socio-economic processes in the Russian Arctic, including consideration of demographic indicators, identification of trends and dependencies of interaction between the main factors of GRP production (the number of employees, investment in fixed capital). The application of this interdisciplinary toolkit has made it possible to examine the manner in which socioeconomic transformations are taking place in the Russian Arctic. It has been established that policy is a determining factor in the development of the Russian Arctic. Long-term changes and contemporary socio-economic features of the development of the Russian Arctic are presented, and considered in close connection with the political attitudes, declarations, and views of scientists. It establishes the consistency of the legal regulation of the region with the priorities and declarations of the main participants of the processes in the Arctic. A positive influence of modern policy on the development of this area has been established, which has tended to reduce demographic losses and to ensure investment growth. At the same time, a number of disruptive aspects of development have been established: that there are significant labour and investment imbalances in some regions of the Russian Arctic; and that there is a strong migratory mood among the most economically active population. These findings not only highlight the lack of theoretical development in the field of effective policymaking, but also identify an area for further research. They have important practical implications for identifying and neutralizing risks to the sustainable development of the Russian Arctic.

Keywords

• the arctic
• socio-economic transformations
• national arctic policy