Agenda

Title: Arctic Securitization: The Role of NATO Constructed Threats, Escalation Dynamics, and Climate Implications

Speaker: Marco Dordoni, Università per Stranieri di Perugia

Link Zoom: https://unive.zoom.us/j/81287990242?pwd=eA59LUv0of6fwj0c0hzthxWudIbFSd.1
Meeting ID: 812 8799 0242
Passcode: X13aW3

Abstract:
This presentation explores the key actors and security dynamics shaping the Arctic. It begins with an overview of the eight Arctic states, their security positions, and the growing involvement of non-Arctic actors, before examining the impact of the war in Ukraine on regional security. The analysis will assess how the conflict has influenced the strategic approaches of both regional and international stakeholders, with notable consequences for environmental policies.The case study focuses on NATO, tracing the evolution of its role in the High North from the late 2010s to the outbreak of the war in Ukraine—an event that compelled the Alliance to take unprecedented and assertive actions in the Arctic. It critically examines whether measures such as Finland and Sweden’s accession, large-scale military exercises disrupting environmental policies, the militarization of Lapland, and significant increases in military spending genuinely enhance regional security or, instead, intensify tensions, perpetuating the classic security dilemma. In an era of escalating militarization and securitization, where European nations are increasingly shifting from a green agenda to a defense-oriented one, this study revisits long-standing yet systematically overlooked policy alternatives that may be better suited to the unique environmental and governance ecosystem of the Arctic.                                           

Bio Sketch:
Marco Dordoni is a PhD candidate at the Università per Stranieri di Perugia, focusing on Arctic security and geopolitics, particularly NATO’s strategic role in the European Arctic. He holds a Bachelor's in Political Science from the University of Milan and a Master's in International Relations from the University of Siena. Marco has gained professional experience at the NATO Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation (CMRE) in La Spezia and at the Società Italiana per l’Organizzazione Internazionale (SIOI) in Rome, where he also earned a Postgraduate Master’s in Arctic Studies. Recently, he completed a six-month visiting fellowship at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), further deepening his research on the region's evolving dynamics. His recent publications include works in La Comunità Internazionale, Geopolitica, and SYbIL. Marco has presented his research at international events such as the Arctic Circle Assembly, Arctic Congress, and Berlin Arctic Circle Forum, and participates in national discussions on Arctic security. He collaborates with Polar Connection, the International Team for the Study of Security (ITSS), and Osservatorio Artico.