The Sami and Russian Arctic Policy

Global warming is changing the face of the Earth, and Russia's location in the North puts it in prime position to control the melting Arctic. The melting of ice and warming of the climate will create new shipping lanes and reveal numerous natural resources, including fisheries, oil, and natural gas. The state in control of these resources will benefit economically and militarily. However, the Arctic will still be incredibly cold and hard to navigate despite the melting ice, and it will not be easy to harness the resources or claim them before they are available. In order to survive the Arctic and harness its economic and militaristic benefits, the Russian government should ask for the help of the Sami people.

The economic importance of the Arctic is significant. The US Department of the Interior estimates that the Arctic is home to 70% of undiscovered oil and gas. Russia's economy is highly dependent on these two resources, so control over these resources would ensure that the administration could remain in power and keep the population from protesting for many years to come. Furthermore, the disappearing ice would create new trade routes that would be perfect for transporting the new resources. The distance from Europe to Asia will decrease to a third of its current length once the ice melts since Russia will be able to ship resources through the Arctic. If the Russian government expects to control these resources successfully and protect them from piracy, it will also need to continue expanding its military into the North. Unfortunately, Arctic projects are expensive and dangerous. In order to fund these endeavors, the Russian government will need to be as efficient as possible by finding the best methods of travelling and surviving in the Arctic.

The Arctic military expansion is already being seen on the Kola Peninsula: ever since the dissolution of the USSR, it has been home to Russia's only ice-free port. Russia has also created an Arctic Brigade which incorporates reindeer and dog sleds, tactics that are not only more cost-effective but they are also better suited to the harsh environments than snow mobiles. The Sami people, an indigenous group native to an area spanning the Northern parts of Norway, Sweden, Finland, and Russia's Kola Peninsula, have traditionally herded reindeer in this region and have the knowledge to successfully maintain herds in the harsh environment. Unfortunately, the majority of the Sami people are unemployed and are unable to herd reindeer due to urbanization and an increasingly non-subsistence lifestyle. The traditional knowledge of the Sami people is disappearing with their changing ways of life.

The Russian government should hire Sami people to maintain their reindeer herds and train the Russian Arctic Brigade to exist in the Arctic. The Russian government would decrease unemployment in the Kola Peninsula, gain knowledge to increase the efficiency of its Arctic Brigade, and create cooperation between itself and the Sami people. The Russian Sami want a share of the natural resources that get harvested from the Peninsula because of their historic claim to the land, and they could use cooperation on reindeer herding to foster discussions on resource control. Amid rising levels of protesting and disconten, the Russian government cannot afford protests over indigenous rights, domestic or international.  Strengthening Russian relations with the Sami will in turn strengthen the overall image of the government and its treatment of indigenous populations. Additionally, increased economic activity from the Arctic resources would limit the amount of discontentment with the Russian government as well as improve the military with the traditional Sami knowledge. Cooperation between the two would also increase the welfare of the Sami people by creating jobs that have traditional significance.

Opposition may claim that the Sami and government could never get along. The Sami reindeer herders often accuse the soldiers of shooting their reindeer, a sign of conflict between the two groups. Disagreements like this would make it difficult for the military and Sami to work together. However, the Russian Sami should consider helping the military as a step towards self-determination. They could also have more control over the resources if they cooperate with the government and aid in the Arctic endeavors. Furthermore, the Russian government needs to have access to the resources in the Arctic. With falling levels of approval amongst the Russian people due to decreased economic activity of the Eurasian Economic Union, the Putin administration needs to boost the economy. Even though the resources are not available immediately, this would give the regime a long-term economic plan to maintain stability. Additionally, conquering the Arctic would be a symbolic move, signifying the greatness of Russia and Putin and increasing his popularity as the leader of Russia. Putin has been known to equate the greatness of Russia with its large size, so expanding Russian territory would fit the rhetoric already used by the regime. Thus, despite the divide between the government and the Sami, it is in the best interest of both sides to get along.

The Russian government is attempting to conquer the Arctic, and it needs the knowledge of the Sami people to do so effectively and efficiently.  By controlling the Arctic, Russia would control the resources and the trading routes that will eventually be available.  In order to secure this future, it must create a military presence that will be able to protect these assets.  The Sami's traditional knowledge of the Arctic would be incredibly beneficial to the Russian military as it creates its Arctic Brigade, and cooperation between the two groups would decrease tensions and foster discussions about resource control and indigenous rights.