An historical institutionalist perspective of Russian Inuit political autonomy

Yupiget of the Chukchi Autonomous Okrug, Russian Federation are the only Inuit in the circumpolar north who do not hold a formal agreement with the state regarding self-governance, nor do they have any formal means of control over the range of activities carried out on their traditional lands. This thesis will examine this circumpolar anomaly by using historical institutionalism to help explain how political changes at the domestic and international levels, and over three distinct time periods have affected Yupiget struggles for self-determination and political autonomy. A documentary analysis supplemented with key informant interviews has shown that Yupiget involvement with international Indigenous organizations such as the ICC is instrumental in maintaining ties to their Inuit counterparts and inclusion in Arctic policy-making. Furthermore, Russia’s increasingly centralized legislative and legal institutions are hindering the further development of non-governmental organizations while redefining a distinctly Russian variation of civil society. While Yupiget political development is currently impeded, changes in the domestic political situation in Russia and/or Chukotka could lead to a redoubling of efforts of the international community to support their political autonomy.