Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Arctic Tensions
In one of the odder geopolitical developments of the year, Canada and Denmark are engaged in a territorial dispute over the Arctic territory of Hans Island, which is located just off of Greenland. A visit by Danish warships to the area earlier in the year has triggered the dispatch of two Canadian vessels as well.
Needless to say, the odds of this ever escalating to blows are slim - perhaps slimmer than the odds of the next pope being a Methodist. Still, disputes like these underscore one of the most unchanging elements of the international system. Despite a proliferation of treaties and transnational organizations, the nation-state remains king and nation states are - by inclination - inclined to get tetchy over even the slightest territorial issues.
Needless to say, the odds of this ever escalating to blows are slim - perhaps slimmer than the odds of the next pope being a Methodist. Still, disputes like these underscore one of the most unchanging elements of the international system. Despite a proliferation of treaties and transnational organizations, the nation-state remains king and nation states are - by inclination - inclined to get tetchy over even the slightest territorial issues.
