Arctic security: a question of identity

An article by Valérie Levée, science journalist.

To understand Canadian policy in the Arctic, we need to study Canadian identity. This is the approach taken by Stéphane Roussel, professor at ÉNAP and member of Observatoire de la politique et de la sécurité de l'Arctique. 

Whether it's opening of the Northwest Passage due to climate change change, greed for natural resources, or the recognition of First Nations and Inuit claims, a variety of circumstances are drawing our attention to the Arctic and raising questions of sovereignty and security. The response to these issues is a matter of foreign policy, but also of domestic policy to ensure the security of northern populations. This political response to security issues is one of Stéphane Roussel's areas of research, which he studies through different government levels and agencies, as well as through environmental groups and mining and oil companies. He analyzes discourses and behaviors to extract everything that allows us to understand the viewpoints, perceptions and intentions of the actors. "What decisions are made, what are implemented, and with what resources? This can manifest itself in attitudes towards institutions, in the implementation of government programs, in military exercises," explains Stéphane Roussel. He also studies how interactions between actors change their perceptions.

The prism of identity 

"When I say that I study actors, their perceptions and attitudes, one of the crucial factors in understanding the attitudes of the Canadian population or Quebec society is through notions of identity. How actors perceive themselves, how they describe themselves, how they describe others and how they describe their interactions with others," explains Stéphane Roussel. This is why he adopts a constructivist approach. The central assumption of constructivism," he continues, "is that the identity of a group, the way it presents and perceives itself, determines its behavior and attitudes. We can explain the reaction of a state, a society, or even a particular group if we know its identity. In other words, if identity conditions the behavior of a society or group, to understand its actions, we must adopt its point of view and put ourselves in its perspective.

Canadian identity and Canadian politics 

What is the Canadian identity that shapes Canadian politics? Even though most Canadians don't live in the Arctic and will never go there, their identity is linked to the Arctic. It's true that Canada is one of the few countries in the world that can claim to be Arctic, literally bordering the Arctic Ocean. The expression of this Arctic identity can be found on stamps and banknotes. 

"It may seem insignificant, just a pretty picture, but it's the way the government sees itself and wants to show itself," says Stéphane Roussel. 

Beyond the symbols, Stéphane Roussel studies how this identity is reflected in Canadian perceptions and how it is used politically. "By studying the identity dimension, we can understand some of the reactions of political parties. For example, the Conservative Party has used the Arctic as a political symbol much more than the Liberal Party," he compares. Arctic issues can be associated with Conservative Party values such as law and order, resource exploitation and patriotism.

The Arctic dimension of Canadian identity is also reflected in international politics. Canadian society is sensitive to any challenge to Canada's Arctic sovereignty. As a result, Canada's international policy in the Arctic stands in stark contrast to that of the rest of the world. While Canada is generally multilateral and respectful of international institutions, it tends to be unilateral in the Arctic. For example, Canada does not want the Europeans and NATO involved in Arctic security, not least because of disagreements over the legal status of the Northwest Passage. While Canada considers it part of its internal waters and can decide who can use it and under what conditions, the Europeans and the United States maintain that the Northwest Passage is an international strait and therefore open to anyone who wishes to transit it.

Arctic Quebec 

While Canada borders the Arctic, Quebec is the only province with a significant portion of its territory that can be considered Arctic and can therefore claim an Arctic identity. This northern character gives Quebec a specificity that is also reflected in Quebec government policies and in the attitude of its population towards Arctic issues. In fact, Quebec is the only Canadian province to produce policy documents on international relations. As INQ-affiliated scientists attending the Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik may have noticed, the Quebec government is often the only provincial government present.

To learn more

Roussel, S. (2010) La protection de l’Arctique: Les Canadiens et les Québécois, même combat? Dans Bernier, R. (Ed), L’espace canadien: Mythes et réalités. Une perspective québécoise (pp. 429-445). Presses de l’Université du Québec.

Payette, J.-F., & Roussel, S. (2011).  The Other Sovereignties: Quebec and the Arctic, International Journal, (66)3, 939-955. In: Battarbee, K., & Fossum, E., (Eds), The Arctic Contested (2014). (pp. 133-147) P.I.E. Peter Lang.

Payette, J.-F., & Roussel S. (2021) Nordicity and Quebec Arctic Diplomacy. In: Landriault, M., Payette, J.-F., & Roussel, S. (Eds), Mapping Arctic Paradiplomacy – Limits and Opportunities for Sub-National Actors in Arctic Governance (pp.17-35). Routledge.

Lackenbauer, P. W., Vullierme, M., & Roussel S.   (2022). L’histoire des Rangers canadiens du Québec. Le 2 Groupe de Patrouilles des Rangers canadiens, Otterville (On.), North American and Arctic Defense and Security Network & 2e Groupe de Patrouilles des Rangers canadiens.

Nossal, K. R., Roussel, S., & Paquin S. (2023). Politique internationale et défense au Canda et au Québec (2e ed.). Les Presses de l’Université de Montréal

Pic, P., Landriault, M., Lasserre, F., & Roussel, S. (Éds.). (2024). L’Arctique et le système international. Presses de l’Université du Québec.

PHOTO: The Canadian Ranger Patrol – Inukjuak from 2nd Canadian Ranger Patrol Group participates in an annual training event designed to refine valuable skills in Inukjuak, an Inuit community, located on the north bank of the Hudson Bay in Nunavik, Northern Quebec, on February 9 2023. Photo: MCpl Matthew Tower, Canadian Forces Combat Camera, Canadian Armed Forces Photo