Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-l7hp2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-26T02:32:01.483Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Petroleum discourse in the European Arctic: the Norwegian case

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2007

Leif Christian Jensen*
Affiliation:
Fridtjof Nansen Institute, P.O. Box 326, NO-1326 Lysaker, Norway

Abstract

The article addresses old ‘west-east discourses’ and how they continue to develop in the high north, and, not least, in the Norwegian petroleum debate. Adopting a discourse analytical perspective the author shows how environmental safety is used as an argument in favour of Norway producing oil in the Barents Sea at the earliest possible moment. This is only feasible if a connection is made in the public mind between Russia and the environment. These views, it is argued, stem from ideas about Russia that gained currency after the demise of the Soviet Union. While they perhaps have less to do with Russia's petroleum industry and environmental performance today, they nevertheless have a strong impact on how challenges in the high north and Arctic region are perceived. And, perhaps even more importantly, they define freedom of action and available options. In this paper all references to government departments refer to those of Norway.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Adam, D. 2006. Global warming sparks scramble for black gold under retreating ice. Guardian 18 April 2006. URL: http://www.guardian.co.uk/antarctic/story/0, 1755763, 00.htmlGoogle Scholar
Barentsobserver. 2007. Gazprom: Shtokman gas in the pipeline from 2012. URL:http://www.barentsobserver.com/index.php?id=425810&;cat=16149&xforceredir=1&noredir=1Google Scholar
Brunstad, B., Magnus, E., Swanson, P., Hønneland, G., and Øverland, I.. 2004. Big oil playground: Russian bear preserve or European periphery? The Russian Barents Sea region towards 2015. Delft: Eburon.Google Scholar
Coast Guard. 2005. Utfordringer i norske kyst- og havområder. In: Et seminar arrangert av Kystvakten: AK RSF/O Grafisk.Google Scholar
Fairclough, N. 1992. Discourse and social change. Cambridge: Polity Press.Google Scholar
Government Administration Services. 2003. Mot nord!: utfordringer og muligheter i nordområdene. Oslo: Government Administration Services: Information Administration (Expert panel for the high north constituted by the Government on 3 March 2003. Report delivered to Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 8 December 2003. Norwegian Official Reports 2003: 32).Google Scholar
Hassol, S.J. 2004. ACIA. Impacts of a warming Arctic: Arctic climate impact assessment. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Hønneland, G. 2005. Barentsbrytninger: norsk nordo- mrådepolitikk etter den kalde krigen. Kristiansand: Høyskoleforlaget.Google Scholar
Hønneland, G., Jørgensen, J.H., and Moe, A.. 2007. Miljøpersepsjoner i Nordvest-Russland. Problemoppfatninger og prioriteringer knyttet til petroleumsutbygging i Barentshavet Internasjonal Politikk 65 (1) (in press).Google Scholar
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. 2007. Climate change 2007: the physical science basis. Summary for policymakers. URL: http://www.ipcc. ch/SPM2feb07.pdfCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jensen, L.C. 2006a. ‘Boring for miljøet’: Russland og miljø i den norske petroleumsdiskursen. Lysaker: Fridtjof Nansens Institutt (Report February 2006).Google Scholar
Jensen, L.C. 2006b. Boring som miljøargument? Norske petroleumsdiskurser i nordområdene. Internasjonal Politikk 64 (3): 295309.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jørgensen, M.W., and Phillips, L.. 1999. Diskursanalyse som teori og metode. Frederiksberg: Roskilde Universitetsforlag.Google Scholar
Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 2005. Muligheter og utfor-dringer i nord. Oslo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs (White Paper No 30 (2004–2005)).Google Scholar
Ministry of Petroleum and Energy and Norwegian Petroleum Directorate. 2006. Facts: the Norwegian petroleum sector 2006. URL: http://www.regjeringen. no/upload/kilde/oed/bro/2006/0001/ddd/pdfv/278568-fakta-eng2.pdfGoogle Scholar
Ministry of the Environment. 2006. Helhetlig forvaltning av det marine miljø i Barentshavet og havområdene utenfor Lofoten (forvaltningsplan) Oslo: Ministry of the Environment (White Paper No. 8 (2005–2006)).Google Scholar
Moe, A. 2006. Sjtokman-beslutningen: forklaringer og implikasjoner. Nordisk Østforum 20 (4): 389403Google Scholar
Moore, T. 2005. Gazprom's global ambitions. BBC News. 20 December 2005. URL:http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4531578.stmGoogle Scholar
Neumann, I.B. 2001. Mening, materialitet, makt: en innføring i diskursanalyse. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget.Google Scholar