New Books in Russian and Eurasian Studies

Unfrozen: The Fight for the Future of the Arctic with Mia Bennett

·43 min·4 clips

Russian and Chinese warships are conducting exercises in the Bering Strait, raising fears of a sudden escalation.

The episode begins with hosts Jessica DiCarlo and Seth Schindler introducing the topic of Arctic geopolitics, sparked by Trump's interest in Greenland. They welcome guest Mia Bennett, an associate professor of geography at the University of Washington and co-author of 'Unfrozen'. Bennett discusses the historical context of U.S. involvement in Greenland, dating back to 1867 and World War II, and links it to Trump's contemporary motivations, which she attributes to ego politics and defense against Russia and China. She identifies key flashpoints in the Arctic, including the Bering Strait, where Russian and Chinese military exercises increase the risk of accidental conflict. The conversation shifts to China's role in the region through the Polar Silk Road and its strategic alliance with Russia, facilitated by Russia's pivot to the East due to sanctions. Bennett also covers the environmental changes in the Arctic, noting that sea ice has lost three-quarters of its volume, accelerating warming and opening new opportunities for resource extraction and shipping. She highlights the involvement of East Asian countries like South Korea and Japan in Arctic research and governance. The discussion turns to Indigenous peoples, who are organizing across borders to assert their rights and sovereignty, offering a hopeful counterpoint to great power competition. Bennett shares her personal journey into Arctic studies, stemming from family heritage and an internship in Norway. She explains how she co-authored the book with Klaus Dodds, combining his geopolitical expertise with her field-based observations. In closing, Bennett reflects on the unpredictable future of Arctic cooperation, suggesting that smaller-scale mini-lateralism may replace broader regional agreements, but hope remains for renewed collaboration driven by Indigenous leadership.

As heard by us

Mia Bennett maps Arctic ambition through shipping lanes, Indigenous partnerships, and uneven governance politics.

An Arctic conversation turns climate change into a question of power, access, and governance. Mia Bennett traces how more open shipping lanes, resources, and fishing grounds are reshaping regional strategy, with particular attention to how China, Japan, and Korea take part in…

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Why you'd press play

You want to understand why China, Japan, and Korea keep showing up in Arctic development and governance conversations as climate change opens new possibilities.

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