The Arctic: land of ice and the six-month day; irresistible goal for explorers and adventurers; enduring source of romance and mystery - and now also a poignant and unavoidable indicator of the impact of climate change. As the ice cap shrinks, the geography of the entire Arctic region changes: clear shipping channels replace immovable ice and inaccessible oil resources become available. What will be the long-term consequences of these cataclysmic changes - not only environmental but also social and political - and how will the global powers who wish to exploit the region's many assets respond? Cold Front offers a clear-sighted and penetrating investigation of the Arctic's pivotal role in international relations, placing the polar region in its historical, political and legal context.