Norm ownership in the Arctic regime: Great power competition at critical junctures

Why do international regimes persist when rival powers clash over their norms instead of replacing them with alternatives? This study introduces a neorealist explanation of regime persistence during power transitions. The concept of norm ownership captures competition over the authoritative interpretation of regime norms. I argue that high-stakes norms function as power resources linked to legitimacy. To examine this dynamic, I trace the evolution of the Arctic regime across two critical junctures: its post-Cold War formation (1987–1996) and the post-2022 period marked by fragmentation, as well as the path-dependent dynamics between them. At both points, the core norm of Arctic peace was linked to security arrangements that proved decisive for the regime’s survival. The study shows that U.S. and Russian strategies of norm ownership shape the resolution of institutional uncertainty. The findings suggest that in regimes where major powers face prohibitive exit costs, contestation over norm ownership may contribute to institutional continuity.