Importance of the Arctic in the Framework of Air Power Theory

Year 2021, Volume: 3 Issue: 1 (Arktik Özel Sayısı), 51 - 73, 19.04.2021

Selim Kurt

Abstract

At first, the Arctic is regarded as inaccessible and unproductive because of its geographical and climatic characteristics stemming from its location. However, despite the perception provoked by these geographical disadvantages, the melting of the thick ice mass on its surface in recent years, aside from its geopolitical significance, has led this region to come to the fore in international politics. The melting in the Arctic has not only allowed natural resources that were previously not feasible for operating to become accessible, but it has also enabled alternative transport routes to be discovered. These resources, and the Arctic’s unique position in the northernmost part of the world allowing shortening distances, have led to the need to look at the Arctic region with a fresh eye. Unlike the well-established perception that the Earth lies along with the East-West direction, air power theorists, in particular, assert that looking at the Earth from the northernmost, that is, from the Arctic region, would significantly alter our perception of direction and distance by shortening distances considerably. Such a way of looking brings the Arctic region to the forefront, moving the Heartland to this region in the framework of air power, and making it the focus of the global struggle.

Keywords

Air Power Theory, Geopolitical Theories, Arctic, Arctic Circle, Alexander P. de Seversky

Importance of the Arctic in the Framework of Air Power Theory

Abstract

Arktik, konumunun neden olduğu coğrafi ve iklimsel özellikler dolayısıyla ilk bakışta erişilemez ve verimsiz olarak görülmektedir. Ancak bu coğrafi dezanvantajalarının neden olduğu algıya rağmen bulunduğu konumun verdiği jeopolitik önemin yanı sıra son yıllarda üzerindeki kalın buz kütlesinin erimesi de uluslararası politikada ön plana çıkmasına neden olmuştur. Söz konusu erime bir taraftan daha önce işletilmesi fizibil olamayan doğal kaynakların erişilebilir hale gelmesini sağlarken, diğer taraftan da yeni ulaşım yollarının açığa çıkmasını sağlamıştır. Gerek söz konusu kaynaklar gerekse dünyanın en kuzeyinde yer almasının sağladığı mesafeleri kısıtlması gibi unsurlar Arktik’e farklı bir gözle bakılması zaruriyetini doğurmuştur. Özellikle Hava Hakimiyeti teorisyenleri yerleşik algı olan dünyanın doğu-batı yönünde uzandığı görüşünün aksine, dünyaya üstten, yani Arktik bölgesinden bakışın mesafeleri önemli oranda kısaltarak yön ve mesafe algımızı büyük ölçüde değiştireceğini iddia etmektedirler. Böyle bir bakış Arktik bölgesini ön plana çıkarak, Hava Hakimiyeti çerçevesinde kalpgahı (Heartland) bu bölgeye taşımakta ve küresel mücadelenin odağı haline getirmektedir.

Keywords

Hava Hakimiyeti Teorisi, Jeopolitik Toeriler, Arktik, Kuzey Kutup Dairesi, Alexander P. de Seversky

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