Svalbard Studies

Steinholt, Yngvar B.; Rogatchevski, Andrei

doi:10.7557/6.6567

Cited by 1 publication

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“…In addition, the various ways coal mining has influenced culture and politics have been highlighted (Steinholt & Rogatchevski, 2022, p. 1). For instance, the dismantling and “turning back to nature” of the Svea mine have been described as a “turning point for narratives about Svalbard’s transition from a mining community to a showcase for the future” and are part of the Norwegian government’s official environmentalist narrative about Svalbard as “a site for innovative environmentalist initiatives and solutions” (Ødegaard, 2022, pp.…”

Section: The Role Of Norwegian Coal Production On Svalbardmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phasing out coal on Svalbard: From a conflict of interest to a contest over symbolic capital

Vold Hansen

2024

Polar Record

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In 2021, the decision to close the last Norwegian coal mine on Svalbard was made, and with that, the Norwegian coal adventure on the archipelago came to an end. This was a result of a political process, which is the focus of this article. Drawing on fieldwork conducted during the fall of 2022, I argue that the political process of phasing out coal changed from a conflict over interests to a contest over symbolic capital. The article contributes to the understanding of Norwegian Svalbard politics and the “balancing act” that this represents. I focus on how power, in the form of shaping people’s perceptions and as prestige, influenced what interests prevail and why. The article addresses (1) why the decision to phase out coal was not made earlier, (2) what ultimately made this decision possible and (3) why and over what the key actors were still competing after the decision to phase out coal was made.

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Section: The Role Of Norwegian Coal Production On Svalbardmentioning

confidence: 99%