Arctic Yearbook 2014
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These positive effects are not to be undervalued even though the Arctic is currently characterized by
a high level of co-operation and stability. Similar statements and evaluations which have until
recently also characterized the political status quo on continental Europe, have now for example also
undergone a drastic change as the result of the current crisis in Ukraine. Also the Arctic states need
to acknowledge that the region remains still part of the broader context of global politics and has for
example also already been a hotspot during the times of the Cold War (Lind 2014; Bergh 2014). As a
consequence, the proposal of the implementation of CSBMs in the Arctic is not entirely new, but
most of the times practical ideas did not address all aspects of CSBMs or did not touch upon their
practical implementation at all (Bergh & Oldberg 2011: 6; Wezeman 2012b: 14). It is thus important
to broaden the general understanding of CSBMs and conflict resolution in particular, as both should
not exclusively be seen as reactive tools to counter immediate threats to peace and security, but
rather as proactive tools which create and further strengthen the structural conditions ensuring the
peaceful settlement of disputes among nations.
Practical Implications and Proposals
As this article aims to contribute to the closure of this gap, the following section will present a
selection of practical proposals which are based on the author’s previous research on the issue and
which have been worked out under the careful consideration of the current political status quo. The
author would nevertheless like the rea \