This book addresses the strategic competition that increasingly is taking place between the great powers in international politics. This competition revolves around states seeking increased influence, economic advantages, information superiority, and other security, technological, and military-strategic benefits. The competitive dynamic is also evident in the Arctic, where the threat environment is shaped not only by traditional security challenges but also by new ones, in what may be described as a “grey zone” between peace and open warfare. Within this grey zone, states employ various instruments to achieve political objectives, such as intelligence capabilities, special operations forces as well as emerging technologies. The capabilities are used to secure information superiority, influence, and the capacity for power projection.

Njord Wegge is Professor of Political Science at the Norwegian Defence University College. He has published extensively on topics related to security and military power in the Arctic, hybrid warfare, intelligence service and democratic control of intelligence services.