Shibata, A. Zou, L., Sellheim, N. And Scopelliti, M. (eds.) Emerging Legal Orders in the Arctic. The Role of Non-Arctic Actors, Routledge (Taylor & Francis), London and New York, 2019, 302 pp.

• Author: Elena Conde Pérez
• Position: Universidad Complutense de Madrid
• Pages: 573-575

www.reei.org

REEI, núm. 38, diciembre 2019

DOI: 10.17103/reei.38.26

SHIBATA, A. ZOU, L., SELLHEIM, N. and SCOPELLITI, M. (eds.) Emerging

Legal Orders in the Arctic. The Role of Non-Arctic Actors, Routledge (Taylor &

Francis), London and New York, 2019, 302 pp.

The important changes experienced by polar regions, determined by the impact of a global

phenomenon, which is climate change, have determined that these areas have become

central point of interest of scientific studies. This historical change has determined a

growing interest in the Arctic region and the challenges and opportunities it faces. From

this perspective, the development of legal-political studies on Polar issues has resulted in

the emergence of an incipient but already prolific new branch of knowledge, which is

Polar Law. Responding to these social interests in a timely manner, Taylor and Francis

publishing group has dedicated part of its legal collection to research in Polar Law, which

integrates the work under review, presented in a careful and good edition.

As announced from its title and, above all, from its subtitle, Emerging Legal Orders in

the Arctic. The Role of Non-Arctic Actors, is a collection of necessary and timely essays

in the abundant literature on the "Arctic issue", as it is infrequent to find works dedicated

exclusively to the role that non-Arctic actors have in the design of politics of the region

and its relevance and impact on the configuration of its legal regime.

With this main objective in mind, the work begins with a suggestive introductory note,

an authentic chapter, written by its editors, which explains the origins, contents and

objectives of the book. This first chapter, fleeing from the simple title of "introduction",

chooses the much more suggestive of “An ocean in the making: non-Arctic actors and

emerging legal orders”. From here, the book is divided into four parts dedicated,

respectively, to the context (Part I); the peoples of the Arctic (Part II); the creation of

Arctic marine law (Part III) and, finally, the importance of science and the role of the

Arctic Council (Part IV).

The important role that Asian actors are currently playing in the design of an Arctic legal-

policy and the challenges and concerns that they generate in the Arctic actors, is a stellar

element throughout the work. In this sense, Part I is especially monographic at this respect

- Chapter 3 by A. Tonami, on “The rise of Asia and Arctic legal order-making: political-

economic settings”; Chapter 4 “Japan’s role in formation and strengthening of Arctic

legal orders” by K. Ide; 5, “China’s Arctic policy white paper and its influence on the

future of Arctic legal developments”, by E.T. Nielsson and B.M. Magnússon- although

Part I also contains the remarkable Chapter 2 “The current and future role of non-Arctic

states in Arctic governance”, where T. Koivurova exposes with his usual didactic clarity

the general panorama of the question under study, with special attention to the

developments that occur in various fora, with particular emphasis in the Arctic Council.

But despite the fact that there is a majority presence of Asian authors or based in Asian

countries, the focus of interest of the work greatly overflows the issue of the relationship

between Asia and the Arctic. Thus, Part II contains the direct vision of the Arctic peoples

with the study of the Inuit leader D.S. Dorough “Our homeland: Arctic Indigenous