Images of the Russian Arctic in the official dispute: the research for the explanation for the macro regional identity

The concept of the macro-regional identity can be interpreted in the several planes, depending on the interpretation of the term region. Thus, the emerging supranational education (in particular, the European Union), and inter-territorial communities within the state called macro regions (Ural, Far East, etc.). However, the macro-region can be understood as a territorial space, separated from the other formed boundaries, systems of communication between people and their common cultural memory and the ‘picture of the world’. In other words, the history of the development of the territory, the general pattern of economic activity and way of daily life support idea of common space on top of the administrative boundaries, and on this basis - a stable macro-regional identity (e. g., communities of the Russian North, metallurgy of the Urals, Siberia, etc.) [1]. One of the macro-regions of the plan is the Arctic, the study of which was highlighted in recent years in the connection with the strategic role of the macro-economy for the future of Russia.

The Arctic is associated with ice, snow, northern lights, the Arctic Ocean, the polar bears, and other characteristics associated with the perception of winter and the cold. The unique nature as a constituent element of the image of the region is complemented by the growing interest in the territory at the political level, many states, because the Arctic is home to vast energy resources, particularly oil and gas. Russia, being the largest of the Arctic countries, has also entered into a ‘struggle’ for the region, considering the Arctic as a priority area of strategic planning for the future development of the state. Repeated statements by the President of the Russian Federation on the importance of the Arctic, the continuing development of the law ‘On the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation’ and the adoption of the Strategy of the Arctic to 2020 testify to this.

Today, the basic piece of legislation that determines the state policy in the Arctic, is the foundation of the state policy in the Arctic up to 2020 and beyond (further – Basics)2, approved by the President of Russia September 18, 2008 It was a new term – is the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation, describing the Arctic macro-region in the political, economic and legal terms.

In accordance with the base, under the Russian Arctic is understood part of the Arctic, which includes all or the part of the territory of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk and Arkhangelsk regions, Krasnoyarsk region, Nenets and Yamal-Nenets and Chukotka autonomous regions defined by the State Commission of the Council of Ministers on the Arctic from April 22, 1989, as well as land and islands mentioned in the Decree of the Presidium of the USSR Central Executive Committee of 15 April 1926 ‘On declaring the Soviet territory of land and islands in the Arctic Ocean’, and adjacent to these territories, lands and islands of internal waters, territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf of the Russian Federation, within which Russia has sovereign rights and jurisdiction in accordance with international law. Thus, combining within its borders seven unique subjects of the Russian Federation (Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Murmansk Oblast, Arkhangelsk Oblast, Krasnoyarsk Krai, Nenets and Yamal-Nenets and Chukotka Autonomous District), the Arctic at the same time presents a separate macro-linking within its borders seven parts, which have common natural geographic and the socio-economic features of an outdoor outlet to the ocean, large mineral reserves and resources, severe weather conditions, etc.3. Therefore, the actual problem is a socio-cultural community of these areas and the prospects of forming a single regional identity of the Arctic.

Relevance to the Arctic as a single macro-region stated in the Report on Human Development in the Arctic (2004) [2], where the North (and the Arctic as part of it) was first considered as a distinct region with its own identity Arctic. In the summary of the report says that it is ‘the first comprehensive scientific review of the circumpolar North as a distinct region of the world. The report contains a comprehensive assessment of the socio-economic, cultural and political potential of the Arctic’ [2, p. 6]. Despite the compartmentalization between Arctic states, the report noted that in the contemporary Arctic increasingly appears as a distinctive region, integrated intergovernmental initiatives such as the strategy of the Arctic Environmental Protection (1991), the

Northern Forum (1991), the Arctic Council (1996). In this case, it is not about the disintegration of the region, and the positioning in the Arctic as a special space in two dimensions as a factor in the northern identity and as an arena of innovative international and inter-regional initiatives.

What is the understanding of common regions that make up the Russian Arctic, is characteristic of the official discourse, which defines what fills the Arctic identity? We look at the key meanings of Arctic specialness in regulations and President of Russia from 2008 to the present.

In the Principles of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic for the period up to 2020 and Beyond, The features of the Russian Arctic, influence the formation of public policy in the Arctic:

• V    extreme climatic conditions (including in the permanent ice shelter or drifting ice in the Arctic seas);

• V    focal nature of industrial and economic development areas and low population density;

• V    the distance from major industrial centers, high resource intensity and the dependence of economic activities and livelihoods of the supply of fuel, food and essential commodities from other regions of Russia;

V low stability of ecological systems, and determining the biological balance and climate, and their dependence even from minor anthropogenic influences.

In other words, the basic meaning, describing the Arctic feature, declared climate, nature, ecology, economic activity and population.

Since the publication of Principles in 2008, discussion of the Arctic as a special Russian policy intensified because of the development strategy for the macro-and the law ‘On the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation’ (it is not passed down to this day). In the interview, congratulations parties Arctic forums and conferences on international negotiations president constantly returns to the theme of the Arctic importance and uniqueness.

Through-line of these materials is the understanding of the Arctic and the Russian Arctic as separate regions, treating each other as a common space, and part of it. And the understanding of the region is formally structured administrative sense and geo-referenced. This attitude, according to the legislator, determines the need for a common policy and management processes in the macro, forms the image of a single ‘object of state policy’, ‘single regional state policy in the Arctic has no legal basis either at the federal or regional levels. It can be stated that the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is not a single regional unit of the country, the center or focus harmonious, mutually beneficial process of regional development’4.

Most clearly demonstrated that ground in the proposals for the draft Federal Law ‘On the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation’. Isolation of the Arctic zone in them is not seen as ‘the result of the physical-geographical or biological-environmental research’, but as a ‘political act’, taking into account ‘the natural, social, demographic and political realities, as well as considerations of continuity and convenience of public administration’5. This means that the border region is formed not only of the subjects who have access to the Arctic Ocean, and the entire political subdivisions subjects.

The next part of the Arctic singularity serves idea inseparable connection of the region with Russia and the Arctic world. Thus, on the one hand, being the largest of the Arctic and Russia is positioned as part of the Arctic, which in addition it includes four other Arctic states (Canada, USA, Norway, Denmark) with the exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, ‘we – the largest Arctic nation, because we have the longest coastline and largest of the sea, so to speak, the way’⁶. On the other hand, integration into Russia defines the mission of the region for the development of the country: ‘With its prominent feature, Arctic both inextricably linked to the rest of Russia, is an integral part of its national identity, the legendary heritage of the past and future development. In the forecast period the Arctic region on a mission of financial and economic support to the country's transition to innovative development’⁷.

Thus, the specific macro-Arctic Russia led to the formation of the region as an independent object of public policy, which in turn is due to specific national interests in this region, as the Arctic region declared a ‘geo-strategic interests of Russia’ that determines the development of the country. In essence it is about the way the resource base of the country's future. Thus, opening a meeting of the Security Council ‘On protection of Russia's national interests in the Arctic’, Dmitry Medvedev said explicitly that the Arctic is a country of the strategic importance and should be a resource base for Russia in the XXI century: ‘The use of these energy resources of, these resources – is the key to security Russia's energy security in general’8.

The strategic importance of the region tied to the resource component, and natural resources of the Arctic, where the focus abundant oil, gas and other mineral resources. The Arctic is home to some of the world’s largest oil reserves, ‘in the Arctic zone produced much of the Russian diamonds, 100 % antimony, apatite, phlogopite, vermiculite, barite, rare metals, and more than 95 % platinum, 90 % of nickel and cobalt, 60 % of the copper in the Arctic... the main reserves are concentrated the most important minerals that are crucial for the development of the national economy’9. The perspectives of the hydrocarbon potential of the European part of Russia in the next few years are related to the development of offshore Barents sea: ‘What we need from our presence in the Arctic? First, we need to use the resources in the Arctic, in each way to develop them’10.

Positioning itself as a part of the Arctic world cannot do without constructing the region's role in the international sphere. The prevailing theme here is the idea of the cooperation with other Arctic states. Thus, at a joint press conference with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg of Norway April 27, 2010 the President stated: ‘We – the Arctic countries. For us, the Arctic – it's not something near the top of the globe, is an abstract, but a very specific theme of the cooperation;. Responsibility for the peace in the region, foster the main objectives of the parties declared: ‘Russia and Norway, together with other countries in the Arctic region have a special responsibility to maintain the Arctic as a zone of peace and for the all-round development in the area of the international cooperation in bilateral and multilateral formats’¹¹.

One of the main topics for the cooperation proclaimed willingness to cooperate in the Arctic research. This is also confirmed in the principles of the state policy in the field of the environmental development of Russia until 2030, which stipulates ‘the development of the international information exchange and the participation in the international projects in the priority areas of science, engineering and technology in the field of the environmental protection and environmental safety, protection of the environment, including in the Arctic’12.

But as a place of rich deposits of the natural resources of the Russian Arctic needs not only to diplomatic protection. Performs the role of protector is Navy: ‘...tool to protect the national economic interests. In particular, in the regions such as the Arctic, where lies the rich biological resources, reserves of hydrocarbons and other minerals»13.

Texts of the Presidents speeches, along with the theme of the international cooperation there is awareness of the interstate competition for resources in the Arctic, so the research and study are described as important for the ‘expansion of the borders of Russia in the Arctic’. Symbolic value in the ‘struggle’ for Arctic resources was a study of the continental shelf and the installation of the Russian flag on the bottom of the Northern Arctic Ocean. Such labeling was perceived boundaries of the State E-competitors are very sensitive, as an attempt to get exclusive rights to develop the Arctic fields, not having under a void.

Personalized protector for the intersts of the Arctic is not only the President of the Russian Federation, but also one of the most famous explorers in the world – Arthur Chilingarov, which since August 2012 special envoy for the international cooperation in the Arctic and Antarctic14. He will be responsible for the conduct of the scientific research in the Arctic, environmental and conservation activities, ensuring safe navigation along the Northern Sea Route, mitigation transport tankers, etc.

The sense that the image of the Arctic serves the unique nature of the region and the need for its preservation. In numerous speeches the president has repeatedly stresses the readiness of Russia to contribute to the preservation of the unique nature of the Russian Arctic. In addition to the unique nature of the region are also characterized by extreme-normality (‘natural extreme’) and severity ‘of the Arctic zone is characterized by extreme climatic conditions: low all year round temperatures, the long polar night and the long polar day, frequent magnetic storms, high winds and storms, dense fogs, monotonous desert and arctic tundra, permafrost, high, far ahead of the world average, the dynamics of climate change in recent decades’15.

Severnaya Zemlya, the edge of the harsh climate, with large areas of the permafrost area is sensitive to the human activities. Environmental characteristics of the image of the region are the adjectives vulnerability requires protection. Therefore, a program to clean up the Arctic: the so-called ‘spring-cleaning of the region’ of debris launched in 2012 In July, President Vladimir Putin met with participants eco expedition to the archipelago of Franz Josef Land, and noted that the

Arctic – ‘this is a very vulnerable region of the planet, but very important for the whole of the Earth's ecosystem. Therefore, for him, for the region, should be treated with special care... we'll have to spend a certain average properties of this environmentally friendly, inherited from the past, it is including the contamination of the Arctic. Today's event – your expedition – we are, in fact, a great start to a new project: Spring cleaning the Arctic’¹⁶.

The Arctic is also an important region in the research of the causes of the climate change. The research necessitates the need to create a multi-purpose space system ‘Arctic’ and the formation of sub-systems of hydro-meteorological and the climate monitoring17.

Another advantage of the Arctic region is the geographical location and channel of communication, due to its maritime character. Relationship with the oceans increases the role of maritime factor in the life of the region. The strategy of the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation and national security for the period up to 2020, recorded that most of the settlements in the region, located on the coast of the Arctic seas and ‘violation of maritime transport, the late delivery of fuel, food and other goods to the Arctic due to short deadlines Arctic navigation lead to serious social and economic consequences, including the threat of life living and working here of the population’18.

The symbol and the pride here is that through the region is the shortest shipping route between Europe and Asia – is the Northern Sea Route, ‘He is able to link the European and Far Eastern sea and river routes, and by reducing transport costs significantly revive business ties of the Russian and foreign partners’19.

Among the fundamental distinguishing features of the region are particularly noteworthy national components. In the official discourse, much attention is paid to the need to ‘preserve the original environment and traditional way of life of indigenous people’20. In this understanding of the group as a native and original combined with the need to integrate them into the modern post-industrial way of life. Ensuring the rights of indigenous people to the distinctive socio- economic and cultural development, protection of their original habitat, the traditional way of life and economic development strategies in the project area is listed as a priority.

The nature of the search for a balance between the development of the Arctic and the preservation of the traditional ways of life of indigenous people. Thus, in Moscow on 14–16 April 2010, at the Fifth Summit of the leaders of the indigenous people of the Arctic region, ‘Industrial development in the Arctic to climate change’ in which indigenous leaders has signed a declaration of the Arctic. The document calls for the impact of the growth of industry and natural resources in the face of the climatic changes in the Arctic nature, health and livelihoods of the people and their culture. ‘We affirm the right of our people to use the land of our forefathers, to manage its resources to protect its ecosystem, is the condition of our survival and to preserve the unique culture and the protection of sacred sites, archaeological and historical sites located in the territories of the original settlement’,21 – said declaration in the Arctic.

Additionally announced on the need for the traditional crafts, including reindeer. At the May press conference in 2011 the president even specially selected question from the magazine ‘Vingy vada’ (‘The Tundra’). In it, the author draws attention to the problem of reindeer in Russia and asked how the government can support the traditional view of the indigenous inhabitants of the Arctic – deer in the industrial growth and global warming. In response, Dmitry Medvedev stressed that the government will support this type of activity as a way of life which forms a large number of northern people through the adoption of appropriate programs (for example subprogram ‘Development of the North reindeer and horse breeding’)²².

What else makes the people of the Arctic Russia, in addition to having a unique community with its own way of life? Its difficult living conditions and the need for the intervention and assistance from the state. ‘...We have to think about the people (or, on the contrary, even in the first moments) who live in the neighboring regions, and always try to help those of our Northern people that fall into this Arctic zone and whose life is not easy’,23 – said President of the question Tatiana Gostyukhin, program director of the North district broadcasting company ‘Yamal-Region’. Assistance, in particular, is presented in the targeted programs to support Indigenous People: ‘I'm meeting today with our colleagues who represent the appropriate ethnic community, they all rec- ognize that different channels have come money and business development, and on the development of traditional crafts and to education. Because, of course, people – this is the main value’24.

The value, which allocated the region, recorded in his need to constantly explore, to make a research. April 10, 2012 at a meeting of the Board of Trustees Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Vladimir Putin awarded a grant of Arkhangelsk regional branch of the Russian Geographical Society for a project ‘Floating University’, whose main goal is to enable students to ‘study the Arctic in the Arctic’. The vessel ‘Professor Molchanov’ summer held the first 40-day expedition to the Northern (Arctic) Federal University.

Thus, in the official discourse the Arctic presented in different semantic categories (table 1). This unique natural environment and a source of minerals and important object of geopolitics, and the native place of the indigenous people of the North. However, a fundamental principle and a fundamental sense of specialness that region serves geographic marker. First of all, it is the Arctic region, Circumpolar, North. It is a given fact draws boundaries mega and should be a key meaning for positioning specific identity of its regional community. In this context, is not scientifically justified is the use in NArFU concept of the ‘North-Arctic region’. The Arctic and the North – is not one, but two paired, but not identical in the region having its borders and its informative different meanings.

Table 1

The basic meanings of the Arctic specialness in the official discourse in 2008–2012

Category	Features
World Arctic	Separate mega region (macro region)
Russian Arctic	Separate region within the mega, part of the global Arctic largest Arctic nation, plays a special role, the Russian Arctic, macro region, the object of public policy, an integral part of Russia, a strategic region; in homogeneously developed region, the most important and fragile region
Resources	The resource base for the Russian future, a pledge of energy security. Its abundant, energy wealth, the rich bio-resources. Most of the state's role in the economic development
The research of the Arctic	Innovation. The development of the Arctic shelf deposits. ‘Floating University’. Kola and Archangel scientific centers.
International relations	Border area, security, international law, joint projects, cross-border cooperation, the international exchange of information, international cooperation. Responsibility for peace and the development in the region. Navy
Communication, Geographical Position	North. Northern Land. Circumpolar. Seaside character. Transcontinental system. The Northern Sea Route, the relationship with the oceans
Ecological Safety	Protection, conservation of the region. Climatic change, the challenges, the environment. Vulnerable region, which is important to the ecosystem. Removal of debris, ‘spring-cleaning in the Arctic’. Indicator of climate change equations

24 The same place.

Nature	The unique nature. Natural extreme. Ice
Society, People	The indigenous people of the North, small nations. Traditional activities (reindeer herding, fishing). Russian coast-dwellers. Ancient civilization. polar