India has divergent views about circumpolar affairs. One dominant viewholds that the region is a ‘‘global commons,’’ rather than the preserve of the Arcticcoastal states with their narrow national interests, and that India should leadinternational efforts to preserve the Arctic environment and freeze out resourcedevelopment and militarization (akin to the Antarctic model)—in short, aPolarPreservenarrative. Another view suggests that geostrategic dynamics and weakgovernance point to a growingArctic Racethat threatens to undermine regional(and even global) peace and security. Accordingly, some commentators argue thatIndia, as a strong advocate of nuclear disarmament, should push for a demilitarizedand nuclear-free Arctic. Others frame India’s interests in the context of regionalrivalries, particularly with China, and potential impacts on Indian security from the‘‘new Great Game’’ emerging in the Arctic. Another emerging Indian narrativeargues that India should avoid the role of a ‘‘revisionist actor’’ and, instead, canbenefit from engaging in established governance fora like the Arctic Council,improving its understanding of emerging Arctic political, economic, and strategicdynamics, and partnering with Arctic states on science and resource development.This narrative situates India in an emergingArctic Saga,where enhanced cooper-ation and coordination with Arctic states (particularly Norway and Russia) can serveIndia’s national and international interests—and those of the world’s inhabitantsmore generally

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• India and the arctic: revisionist aspirations, arcticrealities