In social science terms, the `Arctic' is a relative, not an absolute concept, relating to several dimensions, such as constitutional and geographic status, remoteness, socioeconomic status, and demographic/anthropological factors. There is only one sovereign state with all its territory situated in the Arctic (Iceland), but many other areas of the globe have shared characteristics (Alaska, Yukon, Northwest Territories, areas of Norway, Sweden and Finland north of the Polar Circle, Greenland, the Faroes). Remoteness has to do with distance from the centre as well as accessibility, transportation and communication. Socioeconomically, the Arctic is characterised by a low population density, a fragile natural environment, and overwhelming economic dependence on one or a few resources, often coupled with income transfer. Demographically, the region has a large number of indigenous peoples, heavy immigration from the South (albeit only seasonal), minority problems, immigrant majorities, high infant mortality, low expected lifespan.
The present book is the first to present a large number of articles on the contemporary social, economic and political development in the Arctic, written by social scientists from Russia and the western world, many of whom live and conduct their research in the region. The book thus presents a much more complete picture of the modern world of the Arctic, offering a unique opportunity to compare what is happening in the different parts of the region.

Inhalt
Section 1: The Regulation of International Affairs in the Arctic. World Perspective.- The Arctic Role in a Global Community.- Geostrategy of Russia in the North-latitudinal Region of the World.- Social, Economic and Technical Links Between Northern Regions of Canada and Russia.- Section 2: Science and Technology Policy in the Arctic.- Strategy of the Siberian Science in Studying the Russian North.- Arctic Investigations in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia).- Southern Strategic Thinking and Research Policy for the North (Arctic).- Don't Streer Without a Map. Ideas Toward International Scientific Cooperation in the Arctic.- University Policy in Circumpolar Areas Some Comparisons.- International Licensing Strategy.- Section 3: Government and Self-Government in the Arctic the Structure of Organisation of Local Power.- The Peoples of the North: The Difficult way to Self-government.- On the Mechanism of Interaction of Representative and Executive Bodies in Autonomous Areas.- Problems of Legal Regulation of Local Self-government and of Using Natural Resources.- The Danish Home Rule Model for the Faroe Islands and Greenland.- Prospects for Aboriginal Self-government in Russia.- Footprints in the Snow. Nunavut: Self-Determination and the Inuit Quest for Dignity.- Section 4: Regional Aspects of Arctic Economic Development.- The Arctic (The North): New Regional Policy in Conditions of Market Economy.- Traditions of Centralism and Tendencies of Regionalism.- The Municipal Administration and Municipality Economics in Greenland.- Reinventing Local and Regional Governments Lessons from the Edge.- Physical Planning in Greenland.- Regional Development The Case of Bornholm.- Section 5: Market Economy in the North. Management and Organisation.- Providing for Life in the North:Financing and Organization of the Delivery of Supplies.- The Problems of Formation of Market Relations in the Krasnoyarsk North.- The Structure of Economic Management in Iceland.- The Management of the Alaskan Economy.- The Government Wage Premium in Alaska.- Avenues Toward a Successful Transition to a Market Economy in Northern Russia.- Danish Local Government Market Orientation and Privatization.- Section 6: Natural Resources and Ecology: Management and Structure.- Resource Potential of Siberia (Northern Region) in the International Interaction.- Fostering Oil Exploration in Greenland Waters.- North Atlantic Creativity, A Comparative Description of the Hydrocarbon Regimes in Newfoundland, Greenland and Faroe Islands.- The Management of Greenland's Shrimp Fishing Industry in the 1990s.- Arctic Environmental Policy.- Ecological Safety of the North-East of Russia.- New Technologies as a Factor of Preservation of Ecological Balance in the Arctic.- On Moratorium for Waterfowl Hunting in the Spring Season.- Ecodevelopment of the Arctic: Problems of Choice of Strategy.- Section 7: Human Resources in the Arctic. the Future of Native Peoples.- Modernization and Adaptation among Indigenous Peoples in Chukotka (Russia).- National Villages in Chukotka: Marginalized and Forgotten, or New Prospects for Economic Well-being?.- Creating a livelihood for the Scanty people of the North: Conditions for the industrial development.- Indigenous Peoples of the Tyumen North under the Conditions of Industrial Expansion.- The Native Peoples of the North in Conditions of Market Relations: Comparative Experience of Russia and Canada.- On the Stable Development of Aboriginal Peoples of the Northern Russia.- Social Results of the Development of the Arctic Russia: Historical Experience andOutlook for the future (on the Materials of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia)).- The Northern Interethnic Societies of Russia: The Problems of Self-government and Stability in the Context of Global Social Alternatives.- Specific Human Behaviour in the Russian Arctic.- Unclaimed Values of the Circumpolar Culture as a Reserve of the Mankind in the 21th Century.- Decision-making in Health: Northern and Rural Health Planning.- Declaration of the NATO Advanced Research Workshop Management, Technology, and Human Resources Policy in the Arctic (the North) Novosibirsk, Russia, June 30,1995.- Supplementary Declaration of the NATO Advanced Workshop Management, Technology and Human Resources Policy in the Arctic (the North) decided by the Russian Participants. Novosibirsk, Russia, June 30,1995.- List of Authors.