Warmer Arctic, cooler cooperation - A frame analysis about the Arctic Council Ministerial Meetings’ statements 2015 - 2019

Abstract: Policy conflicts in the multilateral Arctic cooperation have gained more space during the past few years. Once established for cooperation and interaction among the Arctic states and indigenous peoples, along with the promotion of sustainable development and environmental protection, the Arctic Council is now facing some challenges in fulfilling its core doctrines. This development is primarily a consequence of certain states wishing to pursue their national interests over common interests in multilateral cooperation and coordination in the Arctic. This paper utilises a frame analysis in order to identify and understand the main frames that have shaped the politics of the Arctic Council. It also attempts to distinguish any possible frame changes over time, as well as to illustrate any potential changes of the dominance of the frames. Moreover, the paper seeks to examine whether and how the different parties of the Arctic Council have reacted to this newly emerged individualism from some parties. This paper argues that there are certain institutionalised frames in the Arctic Council that have been dominant for a long period of time, but there is a new frame that has evolved, that is profoundly different from the previous frames. Thus far the new contrasting frame has not reached the status of a dominant frame. Although, it is still unclear how it will affect the future multilateral cooperation regarding the Arctic matters.