Międzynarodowe kontrowersje wokół Arktyki i Spitsbergenu
International controversies over the Arctic and Spitsbergen

Summary/Abstract: The Svalbard Archipelago, located in an area of particularly accelerated climate changes and near to enormous, and as yet untapped, oil and gas resources, would appear to be worthy of signifi cantly greater interest than shown hitherto both in terms of politics and science. The province’s geographic location and specifi c legal and political status (as defi ned in the 1920 Treaty of Paris) have led to various interests coming into confl ict in the area and prompted numerous controversies and tensions. However, they have also resulted in the province being a unique laboratory for various forms of advanced international collaboration. The once rather academic debate concerning the exercise of sovereignty and control over the vast sea areas in the region of the archipelago is taking on increasing signifi cance. The Norwegian government’s policy in relation to Svalbard is an element of its wider strategy for what is known as the High North. Recent years have also seen renewed Russian activity in the Arctic region, including Svalbard. It is worth noting that for over fi fty years there has been a Polish scientifi c and research presence in the area in the form of a polar station on Spitsbergen run by the Polish Academy of Sciences.

• Details
• Contents