Arctic Region Policy: Information Sharing Model Options

摘要

Continued climate change and minimum ice conditions over the past several years is allowing for increased maritime activity in the Arctic, which may lead to potential homeland security/defense missions. In January 2009, the U.S. government acknowledged the probability of these missions with an updated Arctic Region Policy, which highlighted the need to develop capabilities to protect U.S. air, land and sea borders, military/civilian vessels and aircraft, maritime commerce, critical infrastructure and key resources. Successfully supporting these missions will depend on a coherent understanding of all the activities taking place in the Arctic region. Achieving this level of 'situational awareness' will only be possible when all equity partners and stakeholders are sharing relevant information. This thesis examined three popular information-sharing models, Alaska Information Analysis Center, Joint Interagency Coordination Group, and the Alaska Partnership for Infrastructure Protection to determine which would work best for a broad array of Arctic partners and stakeholders. The thesis' research and analysis shows that none of the models are sufficient or stand-alone; rather a megacommunity is necessary, consisting of all equity partners interfacing with the stakeholders, managed by leaders that will motivate the community to achieve a high degree of awareness for all Arctic activity.