History of International Collaboration on the Exploration and Development of the Arctic

Abstract

The chapter discusses the key lines of international collaboration in the fields of exploration and development of the Arctic, from the first autonomous expeditions of the late 19th century to the powerful long-standing joint research conducted by thousands of scholars from all over the world. The chapter outlines the key trends of international cooperation within the framework of the exploration of the Arctic, as well as forecasts its development in the future. It is expected that the long-standing comprehensive studies of the Arctic will be continued due to the specific importance of this region for the future of the mankind. Robotic marine expeditions will start a new era in the exploration of the Arctic Ocean. Taking into account the complexity and high costs of polar studies and the growing interest of many countries to the High North, the international collaboration in the Arctic is expected to grow.