The Future History of the Arctic, By Charles Emmerson
Political hot spot with its name in Northern Lights
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Arctic has long been considered a timeless place, existing apart from human civilisation. But, as Charles Emmerson argues in this ambitious study, it is set to assume an increasingly central role in world affairs, as countries tussle over the untapped oil and gas reserves beneath the ice.
Emmerson gives us a sense of the region's past as well as its uncertain political and environmental future, documenting the history of polar exploration and examining the rise of Russia, the US and Canada as Arctic powers. An expert on geopolitics, he writes with insight and authority, but the book would have benefited from ruthless editing – there are times when the thread of his argument is lost amid reams of extraneous detail.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments