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Geography/Politics: The Geopolitics of the Arctic with Dr Alister Wedderburn from University of Glasgow
October 6 @ 14:15 - 15:00
In recent years the Arctic has been in the news like never before. Since re-taking office in January 2025, US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to take control of the self-governing Danish Territory of Greenland – a move which Greenlanders oppose, and which would torpedo US alliances across Europe. Meanwhile, Russia is investing hugely in ports and infrastructure on its northern coast, anticipating that these waters will become increasingly navigable as global temperatures rise due to climate change. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Finland and Sweden have joined NATO, contributing to the increasing militarisation of the high north. And although not an Arctic state, China has declared its interest in the region, and has begun to forge alliances and partnerships with Russia with a view to ensuring it is not left behind.
Why has the Arctic suddenly become such a prominent site of geopolitical competition? What role is it likely to play in shaping global-political futures? And what can we learn from the Arctic about international affairs more broadly? Dr Alister Wedderburn, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Glasgow, will explore the past, present and future of Arctic geopolitics in pursuit of answers to these questions.
Lecturer Profile: Dr Alister Wedderburn
Our events are designed so that a group of students can take part from a classroom, or students and teachers can take part as individuals, either from school or from home. There is no charge to take part.
As a live, participative event, this session will not be recorded but slides will be shared, where available.
Suitable for: Aged 16+ pre-university students studying or with an interest in studying Geography, Politics and related subjects. Teachers and members of school staff, as always, are welcome too and participants can join as individuals from school/college or home, or as a group from school/college.
Preparation/Pre-Reading: Students may wish to consider the topic and discuss some of the key elements in advance. Students can also think about questions they have about studying at university level.
The IT Setup: The event will be run on Zoom and participants will be able to join using laptops, tablets, and mobile devices. If you are joining as a school group, we recommend connecting with one device and projecting onto a whiteboard. You will be able to interact with the university via a microphone and/or typed comments and questions. Full details will be sent to those who have registered (see below) prior to the event.
Booking a Place: This is free for schools and colleges. If you would like to take part in this event, please register your interest using the link to the registration form below: