Virtual reality of the soft power in the Arctic

This article investigates the problem of the use of soft power in the Arctic and its impact on public opinion in the transforming reality. For this purpose, first introduced the notion of actual, bureaucratic and virtual reality, reflecting certain aspects of life by the example of the global soci--‐ ety of the Arctic macro--‐region. Given the scientific novelty in the formulation of the problems arti--‐ cle is not intended to be an exhaustive coverage of all the issues this topic.

Research Methodology is based on the interdisciplinarity and scientific methods. Geopoliti--‐ cal and regionological used approaches in naming the object of the study (the Arctic, the Russian Arctic, the Russian Arctic), multi--‐variant, general science (analysis, synthesis), as well as methods of the humanities subject --‐ history, conflict resolution and management.

Factual, bureaucratic and virtuel reality

Arises primarily the need to identify the main conceptual concepts of the direct relevance to the issues under study. Let's start with Reality (Latin realis --‐ real, real) --‐ is all that exists, all that exists, reality, facts, realism, truth , true essence, tangibility, strength. Taken together, this reality

–is the subject area of the science. In our case --‐ is the subject of an interdisciplinary study of the Arctic macro--‐region, but only on the use of soft power, which creates virtual reality.

I have highlighted three types of the current reality.

First, this is the factual reality, close to the essence to the above, a common understanding of reality in the present tense. This current reality, facts, reality, human actions, social activity, as they say "live life" in all its beauty and filth, vanity of vanities. In practice, the closest to the defini--‐ tion of the true spirit and motivation of human actions are apparently law enforcement agencies (police, investigation, prosecution, court ), excluding of course the facts of corruption and distor--‐ tion of the reality of political pressure. Everyday real perception of reality is common to many citi--‐ zens. However, due to lack of awareness, lack of expertise ordinary people can not always make an adequate picture of what is happening and are exposed to soft power to a greater extent than the professionals. Processes occurring in the Arctic macro--‐region, not an exception here. The real problems of the Arctic region in the Internet age is constantly broadcast to a global level, and transformed under the influence of soft power tools in the virtual reality perceived by people as an actual reality.

Secondly, lush color in the modern society from top to bottom across the vertical of power and bureaucratic control thriving reality. Power Administration, the paper often as far from reality as a reflection of the moon sunlight. Bureaucratic management is based on the established rules, procedures , hierarchy , division of labor, impersonal and rational behavior. There is no malice ini--‐ tially because state and municipal government to follow instructions, regulations, standards man--‐ agement, playing by the rules well--‐intentioned. What will we get from this? This can be seen from the example of the Russian Government for the implementation of decrees in May (2012) the President of the Russian Federation, when fully executed program to move people out of dilapi--‐ dated housing. Not solved other social issues, although formally removed from regulation agen--‐ cies with control as a fully formed.

The power of the paper and formalism dominated not only in government. Many historians study the past primarily on the basis of the written sources, sometimes deliberately distorting the actual reality in favor of the ruling elite, or using anti--‐Russian propaganda myths in the spirit rus--‐ sophobia as instruments of the soft power against Russia. This again showed discussion of the concept of a new educational complex national history.

The full all this applies to the bureaucratic reality of the present time in the Russian Arc--‐ tic. Bureaucratic reality, for example, lies in the fact that the legitimate borders of the Russian Arc--‐ tic (Russian Arctic) is actually today were not there. Internal borders of the Russian state in the high northern latitudes exist only in virtual reality. 15 more ago to the State Duma shall submit the draft law "On the Arctic zone of the Russian Federation". Its adoption would legislate Russia's right to control the Arctic territories and waters, but then the law has not been adopted , mainly due to financial problems with the country's budget. In a letter to the Government of the Russian Federa--‐ tion of July 16, 1998 noted that the introduction of a number of the economic and social benefits for the businesses and individuals on the fifth part of the territory of the Russian Federation is only possible due to a significant reduction of federal budget revenue and expenditure by increasing enrollment in the budgets of Russian Arctic in full all taxes and fees for the use of natural re--‐ sources. Substantial budgetary resources required changes in the applicable tax regime, the intro--‐ duction of additional public benefits (housing subsidies, travel expenses) to persons living and working in the Arctic region, at the expense of the federal budget, rather than employers, other measures. Therefore, the Government of the Russian Federation did not support the adoption in 1998 of a bill 1.

At a meeting of the Security Council in September 2008 was discussed and then finalized and published March 27, 2009, "the Russian newspaper" most important political document "Prin--‐ ciples of the State Policy of the Russian Federation in the Arctic up to 2020 and beyond" 2. Five years ago, was set the task of preparing a realistic normative legal acts of the Russian Federation to clarify the geographical boundaries of the Arctic zone of Russia, including its southern border with the list and status of municipalities included within the specified zone. None of this has not been done, the bureaucratic and things there. Distressful federal law on the Russian Arctic, anoth--‐ er project which was held in 2012--‐2013. public examination, has not been adopted so far.

Frozen since 2004 the projects of the federal laws on the North. In Salekhard (April 2004) to the Far North and equivalent areas were attributed fully or partially territory 27 subjects of the Russian Federation with a total area of 11.9 million square kilometers, accounting for 70% of all Russian territory and population 12.2 million man 3. It was assumed that the development of the northern regions will be based on objectively established modalities of the economic and social development in these areas. Among the tasks specified: ordering system of remuneration of the persons working in the northern regions, on the basis of reforming the current system of guaran--‐ tees and compensation taking into account existing economic relations, the formation mecha--‐ nisms of compensation costs increased regional and local budgets to ensure the life of the popula--‐ tion, etc. The relevance set in 2004 year caused no problems and no doubt. However, the trans--‐ formation of reality into the practice of the bureaucratic life northern societies require adopting appropriate legislation and resource provision . Working Group of the State Council of the Russian Federation on policy towards northern territories proposed in April 2004 (Salekhard) adopt a law on zoning of the North (Northern Territories differentiation by living conditions). In the State Du--‐ ma after a long time the package of zoning Russian North, including four draft federal law "On the Russian North zoning","On the list of the Far North and equated localities", "On State Guarantees and compensation for those living in the Far North and equated localities", "On Amendments to the Labor Code". No progress in the bureaucratic reality never happened, prepared bills again hung in the State Duma of the Russian Federation 4. No progress in the bureaucratic reality never happened, prepared bills again hung in the State Duma of the Russian Federation.

The Arctic zone of the Russian Federation is fully included in the regions of the Far North. In freezing conditions the next project of the State Program on socio--‐economic development of the Russian Arctic at the end of 2013, versions of which are developed unsuccessfully for several years, one of the few realistic goals today becomes the adoption of the 2014 federal law on the Russian Arctic. It is sure to re stepping on the same rake and link definition of the southern bor--‐ ders of the Russian Arctic exclusively with public benefits and preferences for business. They can be identified later in the adoption of other laws on the Far North, and not all at once fell in a heap, creating a formal bureaucratic problems. Arctic Russia needs is not less than the priority today Far East and Western Siberia. It's not just a matter of internal policy, but also the most important geo--‐ political problem. Russian Arctic --‐ is the northern borders of the Eurasian civilization, our northern house, inhabited in the days preceding the millennial history. It is time to identify all the legitimate boundaries of the Russian Arctic.

Third, virtual reality, which is reflected in the culture, art, media, Internet, geopolitics and domestic politics in the Arctic, and other states, when wishful thinking in many different attractive package. Virtual reality – is the past, present and future in one bottle. Immediately say, that be--‐ yond the analysis of this article remain the mythmaking, fiction, literature, theater, painting and other arts, realism, abstract art, postmodernism and other isms creative perception of the real world. And religious denominations and church organizations, rituals, morality, life, based on the imperative of faith. And all that has to dream --‐ dream, fantasize, imagine; reality dream --‐ dream awake.

In virtual reality, which has a direct relation to geopolitics, usually using mass media, the Internet and other soft--‐power resources, the most disguising the truth, lies, reticence, to manipu--‐ late public opinion and consciousness of the vast number of people around the global society called Earth. Dominated russophobia known pragmatic principles earlier century (by Machiavelli "Finis sanctiflcat media"), the idea of the political realism Morgenthau (national interests based on power and might; strength above right). But implemented these and other settings in the new ver--‐ sion using the most advanced technologies (information and communication, IT, social and psy--‐ chological), and postmodern pluralism shares Global Performance. To achieve its goals in the XXI century the state in their policies, primarily the United States, NATO, make efficient use of all in--‐ struments of soft power, change the consciousness and behavior of people, destabilizing the polit--‐ ical landscape, organizing and financing color revolutions, wreaking havoc on the basis of mob rule in different regions Earth.

Soft power in the Arctic

Hard power with violence universally used in acute situations of conflict, often escalating into armed regional conflicts and wars. On the basis of military, economic and financial power of the USA, for example, implement globally the ability to coercion, using, other than weapons, a va--‐ riety of sanctions against a country with undesirable political regime (Iraq, Iran, Syria), embargoes and other restrictions, such as the so--‐called "Magnitsky Act". Permanent hotbed of violence and regional armed conflicts are many countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa. War continues in Syria, for which truth has already appeared peaceful window of opportunity .

Need to use hard power does not disappear in the XXI century, because violence and ter--‐ rorism have not disappeared from the life of the global society. In today's world, as noted by V.V. Putin 01.01.2014, multiply pockets of violence and civil strife, shattered the system of internation--‐ al law, the planet is shaken by fluctuations of the economic conditions, natural and environmental disasters [1]. In the war against terrorism at the end of XX --‐ beginning of XXI centuries of Russia. Responsibility for the attacks on 29--‐30 December 2013 in Volgograd took, for example, over the radical Islamist group "Ansar al --‐Sunnah", since 2003 serving in Iraq 5.

Not preclude the use of the military force in one form or another in the Arctic and the mac--‐ ro--‐region. A war for the resources, space, communication in the Arctic, internationalization at--‐ tempts of the northern territories and waters of the Northern Sea Route in the beginning of XXI century take place in a peaceful manner, using mostly soft power. The Arctic opposition remains largely within the virtual reality correlated the bureaucratic machine of the Arctic states (diploma--‐ cy, Arctic Hint demonstration of military power during the exercise, marking presence). However, the risks of the local armed conflicts during exacerbation of the de facto situation (reality) can not be discounted here. Escalation explicit militarization of the Arctic continues acquiring more con--‐ flictual with increasing amounts of multiple actors in the macro--‐region of the global society of the Earth.

Soft power --‐ is controlled impact on the minds and hearts, people's feelings, their souls to achieve its goals, not only in our country but also in the global society. Orientation of soft power in politics is an endogenous (internal) and exogenous (external) character. Historical, scientific myth--‐ making, information and psychological war, culture, education, and other resources used lay the foundation base of soft power in all its manifestations.

In contrast to hard power to the soft power in geopolitics, international relations, diploma--‐ cy are the opportunities of achieving the desired results by creating a positive image (image) of the country, the spread of mass culture, democratic tsennoctey attractive individual opportunities, other instruments of the power and influence to create a virtual reality. Seemingly peaceful oppo--‐ sition rally within a country can not be called with a non--‐violent, given the practice of "color revo--‐ lutions" and their consequences, in fact aimed at the real power grab. A striking example is the "Ukrainian Maidan» its blockade of the government buildings occupied premises, pogroms, hun--‐ dreds injured participants not peaceful protests and the police officers themselves.

Total Soviet propaganda, powerfully carried out in the USSR under the leadership of the CPSU in 1922--‐1991, International politics, the activities of the Comintern and other similar organi--‐ zations essentially put the same purpose as the modern soft power. In the post--‐Soviet period to support the population of the state's policy, as well as during election campaigns in a competitive political struggle widely used variety of political strategies, including "black PR" as manipulating voters, campaign to create a negative image of the competition, the organization of public scan--‐ dals, the use of compromising.

Defining information as a force in the Joseph S. Nye famous work "soft power". Means to achieve success in world politics "(2004) emphasized that today most of the world's population has access to that power. Therefore, the locus of control ( what to look for ) , and not the infor--‐ mation itself is becoming a scarce resource. At the same time the most important source of soft power becomes trust , reputation . Governments compete for credibility not only with other gov--‐ ernments, but also with a wide range of alternatives, including the news media, corporations, non--‐ governmental and intergovernmental organizations, networks of scientific communities [2].

Diplomacy, often playing a key role in achieving the desired results in the international arena, inferior place in the country's Public Diplomacy, social networks and other institutions of the civil society, really shaping public opinion and social activity of people. Public diplomac, as the interaction with non--‐governmental organizations and individuals, including daily and strategic communications, long--‐term relationships with key individuals through scholarships, exchanges, training, seminars, conferences, and access to media channels [2, Joseph S. Nye]. However, the decisive influence in this, in my opinion, have the social conditions and quality of lif, the actual re--‐ ality , not opening sometimes beyond the boundaries of his native settlements (Kuschevskaya, Busan, Anderma, Arkhangelsk, Dixon, Murmansk, Tiksi, etc., and not bureaucratic or virtual reality.

Broadly speaking, the soft power of the methodology managed to influence the conscious--‐ ness and emotions of people in the society to the beginning of the XXI century comprehensively worked in management, marketing, conflict management. This promotion and protection of the image (the image) of all types of organizations: PR --‐ PR, public relations (PR ), PR--‐promotion. OAO "Gazprom", "Rosneft", "Atomflot", JSC "Sevmash" and other organizations today to create and promote a positive image of the professional use their Internet sites. A good example of branding territories in the Arctic show Nenets and Yamal--‐Nenets Autonomous District. Not very good Ar--‐ khangelsk region with promoting discussion ambiguous brand "Pomerania" in Norwegian actually transform tool of soft power, as indeed he Barents Euro--‐Arctic Region.

For soft power in the XXI century is still relevant complex a variety of marketing communi--‐ cations: advertising, Internet, TV, radio, press, point of sale, logo design and packaging, printed products of the Viral marketing uses anecdotes, links, videos, send each other; guerrilla marketing – is the impact on small groups, word of mouth ("CBOs") – is the dissemination of information from person to person in the process of the personal communication. Today, these methods are added to social networks on the Internet, cheating hearts and likes (I like it) in contact pro--‐ grammed polls, photos, comments, and other methods of forming public opinion, mobilize volun--‐ teers "color revolutions", participants of the protests .

In one way or another above the levers of soft power, the information war for the Arctic resources and space involved in the practice of the Barents Euro--‐Arctic Council, Arctic Council, a unified network of University of the Arctic, environmental and human rights organizations, associ--‐ ations of indigenous peoples and other stakeholders with relation to the Arctic macro--‐region. Soft power is of exogenous origin arises when a country draws its culture, political ideals and pro--‐ grams, creates a positive image of the geopolitical state. Succeeded in European countries and the USA. But Russia, I think, has made a qualitative leap (success of Russian diplomacy for a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Syria, priority positive conservative family values, internal social sta--‐ bility in crisis situations, social cohesio, scientific reassessment of the historical past, a gradual withdrawal from the historical myths and etc).

Most impressive successes in the Arctic through peaceful expansion 6, use soft power to increase their polar domains (onshore and offshore) in the XX--‐XXI centuries reached Norway (Svalbard --‐ Svalbard, Jan Mayen, and others). Following the approval of the Norwegian proposal by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf of the year 09.04.2009 Norway man--‐ aged to legalize their shelf increment by 235 thousand km². Treaty between Russia and Norway on maritime delimitation and cooperation in the Barents Sea and the Arctic Ocean, ratified in 2011, divided the disputed area with a total area of about 175,000 km2 in two equal parts. As a result of ownership Arctic Norway is already more than one million square kilometers 1,068 km2). Scale peaceful Norwegian expansion in XX--‐XXI centuries in the Arctic have no analogues in the world and very significant for such a small population of the country.

Classic example of the ability in practice to achieve the desired based on the voluntary par--‐ ticipation of allies, not by coercion or handouts, take a worthy place in the history textbook of the Arctic, the visit of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Norway. After negotiations of Clinton at a joint press conference June 2, 2012, then--‐Minister of Foreign Affairs J. Store Norwe--‐ gian town Tromso proclaimed "capital of the Arctic", and the U.S., its main NATO allies, the leading state in the Arctic [3] Solovetsky forum in turn called in September 2012 Arkhangelsk capital of the Russian Arctic. However, allies in Russia in Archangel unfortunately almost was not, interre--‐ gional integration and solidarity Arctic we completely absent, losing competition between Arctic cities (Murmansk, Salekhard) and the subjects of the Russian Arctic.

Meanwhile, ostrie spears soft power of other states in the Arctic today directed uniquely against Russia. According to the president of the Academy of Geopolitical Problems, Doctor of His--‐ tory, Professor, Colonel--‐General LG Ivashov twenty--‐first century, despite the declared end of the "cold war", not for humanity became more stable and secure. In the epicenter of the international tension out energy problems. Acute shortage of energy, with a vibrant development of the east--‐ ern economies and increasing energy Western countries, Latin America and the Islamic world, has led to confrontation is not individual countries, but civilizations and regions. Powerful challenge concerning Russian Arctic throws, forming new threats to its security. In the Arctic region in geo--‐ political relations system develops bipolar model --‐ Russia and all the other candidates [4].

Ecology as the instrument of the soft power in the Arctic

One of the main instruments of the soft power in the Arctic has actually become ecology. Examples of the real problems with environmental protection, environmental hot spots as a soft power to exert pressure on the Russian government more than enough. Twice, for example, in August 2012 and in September 2013 the Russian platform "Prirazlomnaja" on the Pechora Sea shelf was exposed to attacks of the international organization Greenpeace. To achieve in general good purposes environmentalists chosen within the "soft power" actions similar whether on pira--‐ cy, whether on hooliganism. Stop the actual operation platform "Prirazlomnaya" such shares Greenpeace could not, but the universal virtual noise in the press, the Internet has turned out well.

It is possible that the main objectives was to put shares Greenpeace Russia image losses, forming a negative image of the leading Russian campaign "Gazprom" and braking the Russian shelf in the Arctic. However, this did not happen.

"Gazprom" in its press release, December 20, 2013 reported that really started oil produc--‐ tion at Prirazlomnoye. This is the first project in the history of Russian resource development of the Arctic shelf, the beginning of large--‐scale work of "Gazprom" in the region to establish a major center of the production of hydrocarbons [5]. Shipment of the first tanker with oil Prirazlomnoye expected in the first quarter of 2014, total for the year is expected to produce at least 300 tons of oil, and the planned production level of about 6 million tons per year will be provided after 2020.

The Arctic oil with the environment in mind requires huge expenses necessary to pay for everything, do not give an absolute guarantee that cost recovery and profit. The total cost of the project to develop Prirazlomnoye estimated, for example, 200 billion rubles. This amount includes the cost of the platform (65 billion rubles), infrastructure, and construction of a special fleet of four vessels, including two ice--‐class tankers. In so far invested about 100 billion rubles 7.

Pic. 1. Prirazlomnaya. URL: http://www.gazprom--‐

Risks associated with operating platform "Prirazlomnaya" in harsh Arctic conditions are in--‐ evitable 8. But Gazprom and taken measures to drilling safety and oil shipments under increased public attention to them credible 9. "Gazprom" argues that "Prirazlomnaja" – is a unique platform designed to operate in the extreme conditions, namely in the Russian Arctic shelf 10.

Greenpeace position is a total ban of oil production in the Arctic. Kumi Naidoo, executive director of Greenpeace International, said more 24.08.2012: "The Arctic –is not the place for oil. We want to be heard. And if it is necessary to carry out the action --‐ we will do it"[6]. Greenpeace seeks to build a global reserve in the Arctic, as well as a ban on oil and commercial fishing in the Arctic waters.

With your Greenpeace solidarizes with Higher School of Economics S.A. Medvedev, who said: "In good, in Russia as in the right and not an irresponsible owner Arctic is necessary to select and pass under international jurisdiction like Antarctica with a total ban on economic and military activities" [7]. According to Sergei Medvedev, Russia will lose the war for the Arctic due to the ef--‐ fects of environmental disaster, there is already happening and can turn into a catastrophe. Later, he clarified his position that offers not a rejection of the sovereignty of States within the existing borders and territorial waters and exclusive economic zones, the economic and military activities in the Arctic (Vedomosti.ru 04.10.2013). Higher School of Economics offers do Arctic global nature park, where all States will be prohibited mining, any economic activity, as well as the introduction of weapons. Such a restrictive position really reflects some spectrum of the public opinion. At the 14th Solovetsky Forum (2011), for example, sounded a warning about a possible "revenge bowels" --‐ in the Arctic seismicity problems encountered in the production of hydrocarbons.

Not only in the public mood, but also in business there are more supporters to freeze pro--‐ duction of hydrocarbons in the Arctic shelf. Companies should not to drill for oil in the Arctic be--‐ cause of the high reputational risk --‐ said in September 2012, the newspaper The Financial Times head of the French Total Christophe de Margerie 11. After a gas leak on an oil platform in the North Sea (March 2012) French Total abandoned offshore drilling and urged competitors, given the risks, it is better not to touch the Arctic unnecessarily. Suspended in 2013 its activities in exploration and drilling in the Chukchi and Beaufort Seas company Royal Dutch Shell. Not began to develop offshore oil fields in Alaska British BP, estimating all the costs to comply with environmental standards. And frozen until the Shtokman project.

Arctic Council, in turn, adopted May 15, 2013 panarctic document "Agreement in the field of preparedness for marine oil pollution in the Arctic and to deal with it" 12. And on the eve of the meeting of the Arctic Council 15 indigenous organizations signed a joint statement against oil de--‐ velopment in the Arctic.

In light of the emerging issues in the Arctic in the extraction of hydrocarbons is very im--‐ portant systematic analysis of threats and opportunities to prioritize activities that are not in the plane of virtual reality, but in reality. Vasily Epiphany, Deputy Director of Research Institute of Oil and Gas Institute, without underestimating all existing risks, notes, for example, that at the stage of oil production in the world is 1.3% of pollution and accidents due to leaking pipes and Oceans gets about 35% of petroleum products. Greater danger is posed by oil spills from tankers trans--‐ porting these risks increase. In 2020, the year in the Russian Arctic is expected to transport by sea 50--‐80 million tons of hydrocarbons, which means from 750 to 1100 flights tankers [8].

Problems of the development of the Arctic resources is enormous, the risks of oil and gas transportation are enormous. One of the main causes of the accidents, spills is the human factor. Obviously, that does not need much emotion, a strictly adjusted balance economy and ecology; dialogue between the government, business, society and constant monitoring, training and the development of the professional competence of all personnel, monitoring and implementation of other protective measures during production, transportation of hydrocarbons in the Arctic. Po--‐ suschestvu such activities , especially public openness will be the best answer any soft power on the other side, which is under attack.

Struggle for North Pole, Continental shelf

The North Pole to the XX--‐XXI centuries actively developing Russian. In 1937, here the world's first research station "SP--‐1" raised the flag of the Soviet Union.

Pic. 2. Circumpolar arctic area around the North Pole.

URL: http://www.victory--‐

In 2012--‐2013. number of drifting research station "North Pole" has already reached forty ("SP--‐40") 13. This year, problems with financing "SP--‐41" 14. Due to changes in the ice conditions in the Arctic The Russian government allocated 1.7 billion rubles for the construction of self--‐ propelled drifting ice--‐resistant platform for future plants [9].

August 17, 1977 atomic icebreaker "Arktika" the first time in the history of navigation reached the North Pole on the surface. Today, the journey to the North Pole, including nuclear--‐ powered icebreakers, became expensive tourist trip.

In 1962, the Soviet nuclear submarine K--‐3 "Leninsky Komsomol" surfaced at the North Pole and hoisted the flag of the USSR. Prior to this, in 1958 the North Pole submerged submarine passed American'' Nautilus "SSN--‐571. This peacefully--‐Arctic military rivalry is still going on. Subma--‐ rine K--‐410 "Smolensk" in 2014 will make the ascent to the geographic North Pole.

One of the most famous commercial projects in recent years Steel Arctic drifting station "Barneo" which operated in 2013 for the seventh time (Fig. 3). Boyarsky V.I., Director of the Rus--‐ sian State Museum of the Arctic and Antarctic, said its effective reference point of the Russian presence in the Arctic.

To a large extent these and other projects, all polar expeditions of the USSR--‐Russia and other countries have had and have not only scientific, economic, military significance, but play an important role in creating a positive image of their state as part of soft power.

From Russia perhaps the most visible manifestation of the soft power in the Arctic, a major scientific achievement was the expedition "Arctic --‐ 2007" under the direction of A.N. Chilingarov. August 2, 2007 at the North Pole were committed in two dives of "Mir". During this dive people first reached the ocean floor beneath the North Pole. There's a team of "Mir--‐1" was set flag of the Russian Federation made for the longevity of titanium alloy.

The emergence of the Russian flag on the Arctic shelf excited world's leading media. U.S. State Department spokesman Tom Casey, commenting on the results of the Russian expedition "Arctic 2007" stated that this fact has no legal meaning or effect for RF applications at Offshore 15. Even more irritation expressed F.M. Peter MacKay: "The yard is not XV century. You can not pass through the world, set some flags, and then say:'' This is our territory"16. Such a reaction was quite expected and direct evidence that Russia used very effectively if its soft power.

Pic. 3. Boyarsky V.I. Russian ice base "Barneo". – SPB, 4 December 2013

Many countries in the global society started after the event vying to claim various kinds virtual claim to the Arctic area. In the world press started talking about that in the confrontation between Russia and the West seem to have opened a new "arctic front" called polar expedition --‐ 2007 "provocation". However, nobody in the world has still not done anything like this , not again reached Russia in the Arctic Ocean results. Russians are proud of their country for this and other expeditions in the Arctic , as well as the first flight of Yuri Gagarin into space.

Real Russian presence in the Arctic in a variety of the shapes and forms, not excluding the virtual reality as a manifestation of the soft power of the state, certainly meets the national inter--‐ ests of Russia.

The Arctic shelf – is «the amin bone of contention»

Continental Arctic shelf, the sea bottom of the Arctic Ocean is now the main problem of the Great Arctic geopolitical redistribution in a peaceful war for the Arctic resources, space and transport communications. It is important to emphasize that the national interests of the Arctic states largely realized being quite legitimnoy̆ the basis of international law of the sea in full com--‐ pliance with the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea --‐ United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Four states having coastline in the Arctic Ocean (Canada, Denmark, Norway, Russia) on the basis of the international law legitimately established their exclusive economic zones, law extends its sovereignty and jurisdiction over the internal waters, territorial sea and airspace above them, struggling under existing law beyond the boundaries of the continental shelf. Besides the U.S., have not ratified UNCLOS and thus effectively as if ignoring the international law of the sea. There is the powe in the Arctic, so why do we need the right in the Arctic? However, claims one of the leading powers of the world to the continental shelf will be legitimate if it is a State ratifies the UN Convention on Law of the Sea, and will issue an application to the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf.

As a result, determining the boundaries of the EEZ in the central part of the Arctic Ocean Arctic formed space, the so--‐called zone of the United Nations or international waters, circumpolar enclave located outside the exclusive economic zones of the Arctic states.

The area of the international waters in the central Arctic Ocean is 2.8 million square feet. km. Figures 4, 5, 6, you can see what kind of the circumpolar waters of the Arctic Ocean is about and who it claims to ocean space with the current position of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1982, with a claim to the continental shelf of the Arctic.

Thus there is a need to resolve the conflict between Denmark, Canada and Russia in con--‐ nection with their claims on circumpolar waters, or rather on the seabed in this area circumpolar Arctic Ocean. How to resolve conflict with the boundaries of the continental Arctic shelf --‐ today we do not know and can only predict the various options. Here there is an element of uncertainty or of the diplomatic reticence, incompleteness negotiations.

Pic.4. Skott Hailimen, Director of the International Arctic Programme Charity Pew. Protection of the Arctic fisheries.

URL: (Date of access: 22.12.2013).

It is currently completing a long period of the perennial Arctic countries work expeditions, research in the XXI century in the waters of the Arctic Ocean. To prove that kontinentalnyy̆ shelf extends beyond the exclusive economic zone of Canada, Denmark, and Russia must submit a well--‐ designed according to the rules in the Commission proposal OON CLCS, as did Norway, the appli--‐ cation of which was granted in 2009.

Due this date to December 7, 2013 a request to the UN Commission filed Canada. At a press conference in Ottawa 12/09/2013 Canadian Foreign Minister John Baird and Minister of the Environment Leona Aglukkaq made the clarification on the content of the application. Canada claims to continental shelf in the Atlantic and all scientific work is completed. However, if the sci--‐ ence is over the Atlantic, the Government of Canada presented by the Arctic only the most prelim--‐ inary information ("preliminary information"). Claim to the North Pole, on natural resources be--‐ yond the 200 --‐mile EEZ is not yet supported by science. At a technical briefing on the same day experts Natural Resources Canada, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans and Foreign Affairs tried to explain why the Canadian Arctic application was incomplete, despite years of work and tens of thousands of kilometers of the mapped Arctic seabed". The goal is, of course, to get the most extensive continental shelf of Canada", --‐ said the lawyer Hugh Adsett. And added that they do not know how much work there is to do, and the government is in the process of trying to un--‐ derstand it [10].

Pic.5. Alexey Ivanov (Institute of the Earth's Crust SB RAS, Irkutsk). Again on the Arctic shelf. URL: http://www.e--‐ 2342_% 2824--‐11--‐2009% 29. html. State of the Arctic region, the spread of their 200--‐mile zones and potential areas beyond 200 miles, which can claim these states. Bold red color allocates disputed regions between Canada, Denmark and Russia. Diagram taken from the site / ibru / resources / arctic / Research Centre at Durham University's international boundaries (IBRU, Durham University).

Pic.6. Kaminskiy V.D. Deep structure of the central Arctic Basin (in connection with justification outer limits of the con--‐ tinental shelf of the Russian Federation and the assessment of hydrocarbon resources). 8 June 2010. URL &Itemid=78 (Date of access 10.12.2013).

Such positioning is dramatically different from the optimism that had earlier expressed Dr. Jacob Verhoef, Natural Resource Canada's head of Arctic mapping, in a report in 2011. Quantity and quality of data has exceeded our initial expectations --‐ with delight when he wrote. Canada, he said, was ready to present its external borders of the extended continental shelf and substantiat--‐ ing information [10]. In December 2013 officials have not been able to answer, what has changed since 2011. If we assume that in 2011 there was the usual PR, ie elementary use of soft power, in 2013 and returned to Canada boomerang several ruined his reputation. What may be a claim to the North Pole, if there is no scientific evidence, the real facts? Can not always promote only vir--‐ tual reality, in fact, not supported by the image of the Arctic states.

I think our readers quite naturally interested in the question of whether, and if today Rus--‐ sia is ready to re--‐imagine the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf refined its se--‐ cond bid? Russian scientific organizations in 2002--‐2013 spent a whole lot of work on the study of the Arctic Ocean and received materials to clearly justify Russia's claims to the continental shelf in the Arctic beyond its exclusive economic zone.

Pic. 7. Kaminskiy V. D. The model of the Russian layout of VGKSH in the Arctic Ocean in 2013.

V.D. Kaminsky, director of the FSUE "VNIIoceanic named after I.S. Gramberg" at a confer--‐ ence in St. Petersburg, December 4, 2013 stated that the layout of the application is ready (Fig. 7) and is being coordinated by the Government of the Russian Federation .

Arctic pact --‐ ХХI, Arctic summit, reorganization of the Аrctic Council ?

In 2014 --‐ 2020 years of struggle for the Arctic shelf, the sea bottom for the Arctic Ocean and for the Arctic resources is entering its final phase. According to Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, the Russian government today "unfolds the whole battle is still virtual, but serious play--‐ ers" for who first foothold in the region "not verbally and physically". [11] Hot war in the Arctic de facto useless. But to sit and wait, as they say here, "idly in vain" Russia of course there will not be.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the most important task for the War De--‐ partment in 2014 is the development of infrastructure in the Arctic, the deployment of the Na--‐ tional Center for the Defense of the Russian Federation 17. Russian army and navy began to receive modern equipment and weapons, including submarines of the fourth generation. Arctic modern--‐ ized network of airfields and communications systems. Ships and support vessels of the Northern Fleet (NF) continue to actively explore new areas of navigation in the Arctic. In the summertime 2014 several detachments of ships SF made incursions in the waters of the Kara Sea and the Lap--‐ tev Sea, than to continue in 2012 started work on the new sailing areas in the Arctic Ocean. Plan--‐ ning studies in the area of Severnaya Zemlya archipelago. Continue the study of navigation and hydrographic conditions, proofreading maps and marine sailing directions, meteorological obser--‐ vations, examination of the geodetic stations in the Arctic and check their links, as well as to ex--‐ plore the possibilities of navigation neledokolnogo class in high latitudes in ice conditions favora--‐ ble for the period18. These and other measures will take control of the situation and the space in the Russian Arctic.

NATO statement on cancellation of the plans for the direct military presence in the Arctic can be taken at the same time taking into account the evolving reality "of the actual situation, only as part of a virtual reality of the soft power in the Arctic region. And nothing more. Post--‐Soviet Russia, bitter experience of previous promises declarative NATO after the collapse of the USSR, simply has no more right to take seriously such statements with permanent use of the "double standards".

"National Strategy for the Arctic region" (May 10, 2013) defines the CSHA Arctic nation and proves as a first priority security in the Arctic, covering a wide range of activities, improving the knowledge of the activities, conditions and trends in the region, which may affect the safety, envi--‐ ronmental or commercial interests. U.S. seeks to increase the corresponding sea, air and space capabilities, safe transit, development of the necessary infrastructure Arctic. Declared the preser--‐ vation of the Arctic region as a zone free of the conflicts. Work of the Arctic Council is used as a tool for promoting U.S. interests. [12] U.S. Navy wants to spend nearly $ 8 billion to strengthen presence in the Arctic, to build 10 new icebreakers provide coverage of the Arctic zone satellite constellation19.

U.S. military same strategy (NMS--‐2012) as a whole is aimed at global superiority (global leadership) [13]. According to military experts, the most effective way to proceed against Russia CSHA elected concept drawing of the first "preemptive strike" in the Arctic region, which is the ba--‐ sis not ballistic nuclear missiles and precision--‐guided weapons systems and non--‐traditional tech--‐ nologies (drones, robots, ships with hundreds of long--‐range arsenals cruise missiles, missile de--‐ fense system). System --‐ network operations are covert destabilization for six subsystems defining national development and defense of the Russian Federation: political, military, economic, social, infrastructure and information [4, L.G. Ivashov].

In other words, the rate in the war over the Arctic resources, space and communication is done by a combination of methods of application of hard and soft power. I think that down the real situation in the Arctic conditions in the world requires monogopolyarnogo discuss and devel--‐ op possible options for the restructuring the Arctic Council and the conclusion of a comprehensive pan--‐Arctic agreement.

In the event of the conflict in the Arctic for their prevention and resolution is possible and necessary to use a batch approach. Prisoner in 2010--‐2011. treaty between Russia and Norway clearly demonstrated the presence of the public demand package approach to the delimitation of the Arctic continental shelf in the Arctic Ocean, referring to the contentious issues of Spitsbergen, fishing, military threats. Therefore, in the negotiation process, it is important to seek to conclude agreements, system including not only concerning the attribution of the continental shelf of one or another of the Arctic states, but the search for a balance between economy and ecology in the Arctic environment, conservation of the biological resources, fisheries control, making joint con--‐ certed action in the prevention of marine oil pollution in the exploration, production and transpor--‐ tation; problems demilitarization of the Arctic macro--‐region. This will be vital real arctic package.

Not excluded the probability of making "Arctic pact --‐ XXI" or the Arctic international agreement (treaty) to actually create a multipolar world, which should support at least declara--‐ tively entire Arctic G20. Public opinion is quite matured to the conclusion and implementation of such large--‐scale pan--‐Arctic Ilulissat Declaration, contrary to the agreement, signed by the short--‐ sighted Russia May 28, 2008 in Greenland, legalized monopoly regional Arctic Five (A5 = Denmark,

Canada, Norway, Russia, USA). Interest in the region among the several dozen other states mo--‐ nopolize impossible without creating new tensions artificially.

Finland, with an eye on the upcoming transition in 2017 to her presidency of the Arctic Counci, made a very important initiative. Finnish Prime Minister Jurki Katainen proposes to hold in 2017--‐2018 Arctic summit of the presidents are the permanent members of the Arctic Council and observer countries. He also considers it possible to move forward in the Arctic Council to trans--‐ form the organization, on the basis of the existing contract. Yu.Kataynen confident that in the coming years, the Arctic Council will acquire a greater global role:"Finland strongly supports the Council, emphasizing its global role and supporting efforts to involve stakeholders from outside the Arctic in his work "[14].

Yrki Katainen, Prime Minister of Finland (Photo: Thomas Nilsen)

Russian diplomacy would be illogical to reject the proposed upgrade options of the interna--‐ tional relations and conflict resolution in the Arctic, including the development pact «Arctic pact--‐ XXI", the transformation of the Arctic Council in A5 regional organization of global importance A20, other possibilities. Otherwise, the problem of thenpeaceful partition and Arctic exploration will not be solved and the embers will smolder Arctic conflict for a long time, threatening at any moment turn into flames of a bonfire with unpredictable consequences in a changing world.

Conclusion

Introduction to the scientific revolution actual conceptual notions, bureaucratic and largely virtual reality allows us to understand the mechanics of using soft power in the Arctic. Different novel approaches to the definition of a system of soft power and its manifestations in the real Arc--‐ tic macro--‐region.

Deserves attention and constructive discussion of the question of the «Arctic pact--‐XXI" with the involvement of the Arctic G20 (Arctic Council comprising eight countries --‐ members and 12 states --‐ observers). And also on the initiative of Finland and Arctic Summit transformation Arc--‐ tic Council in the organization of global importance.

Of course, the problems discussed is not reduced to the publication. The article does not address issues of culture, education, real state and status of indigenous people, problems of cul--‐ tural, ethnic, religious identity, and many others, are used as instruments of soft power and the creation of virtual reality in the Arctic macro--‐region, mainly directed against Russia.

I hope that the article will be used as a resource and allow more than once to return to the virtual reality of soft power in the Arctic and to the assessment of the evolving Arctic waking in the journal "Arctic and North".