Consider the following countries : 1. Denmark 2. Japan 3. Russian Federation 4. United Kingdom 5. United States of America Which of the above are the members of the 'Arctic Council'?

Mentions Denmark leading an international coalition that explicitly lists Greenland as a core member alongside Denmark.

A student could note Denmark’s governmental link to Greenland and, using a map or facts that Greenland lies in the Arctic, infer Denmark has Arctic territorial interests relevant to Arctic organisations.

Defines the Arctic region and explicitly identifies the coastal strip of Greenland as part of the Arctic.

Combine this with the fact that Denmark is associated with Greenland (snippet 1) to argue Denmark has Arctic territory and thus would be a candidate member of Arctic regional bodies.

Describes the Arctic region’s economic and strategic importance and lists locations (including Greenland-related resources) in the Arctic.

Use the description of Arctic importance to justify why states with Arctic territory (e.g., Denmark via Greenland) would participate in Arctic governance forums.

States that polar regions are subject to special regional rules and common governance by the international community.

A student could infer the existence of regional Arctic bodies composed of states with Arctic interests, and then check whether Denmark—having ties to Greenland—would be among them.

Gives an example of an international grouping that typically includes northern/non-EU developed countries (e.g., Iceland, Norway) suggesting regional/geographical criteria for membership in some international groups.

From this pattern, a student might infer that similarly the Arctic Council likely includes northern states and therefore test whether Denmark (linked to Arctic Greenland) is included.

States that Japanese fishing fleets 'venture far and wide into the Arctic', showing Japan has direct economic activity and interests in the Arctic region.

A student could combine this with a world map (showing Japan is non‑Arctic) to infer Japan might engage with Arctic governance as a non‑Arctic state (e.g., as an observer) rather than as an Arctic littoral member.

Reiterates that Japanese vessels operate in Arctic waters (including whaling), indicating persistent national involvement in Arctic affairs.

Use this pattern of active involvement to justify checking international bodies concerned with Arctic policy for non‑Arctic participant roles for states with Arctic economic interests.

Describes the Arctic as increasingly important economically (minerals, ports), explaining why distant states with economic/strategic interests might seek participation in Arctic institutions.

Combine this general rule (economic importance draws external actors) with the fact that Japan has Arctic economic activity to suspect Japan would seek some formal relationship with Arctic governance structures.

Lists Japan among an alliance of developed non‑EU countries active in international environmental agreements, showing Japan takes part in multinational environmental groupings.

A student could extend this to hypothesise Japan participates in international Arctic environmental forums (as a non‑Arctic state participant or observer) and then check Arctic Council membership categories.

Notes Japan's status as a major developed economy and member of international clubs (OECD, G7), implying it often features in global multilateral arrangements.

Combine the pattern that major developed states join multilateral bodies with Japan's Arctic interests to motivate checking whether Japan holds any formal status (member/observer) in Arctic institutions.

Describes economic activity and settlements in the Arctic region, and mentions Soviet mining near Petsamo, indicating states with Arctic territories have longstanding interests there.

A student could note that countries with Arctic territories typically join cooperative forums about the region and then check whether Russia (successor to the USSR) is listed among Arctic states or council members.

Explains the Northern Sea Route linking Murmansk and Vladivostok via the Arctic Ocean, showing Russia has Arctic ports and a coastline facing the Arctic.

Use the fact that a country with Arctic coastline commonly participates in Arctic governance bodies to suspect and then verify Russia's membership in the Arctic Council.

Lists the Russian Federation among countries that form international groupings (the Umbrella group), demonstrating Russia's participation in multilateral environmental/policy groupings.

Combine Russia's presence in multilateral groups with its Arctic geography to infer Russia is likely engaged in Arctic multilateral institutions and then check the Arctic Council membership roster.

Shows the Russian Federation is an active member of regional international organizations (EAEU), indicating a pattern of Russia joining regional/regulatory bodies.

A student could generalize that Russia often joins region-focused organizations and therefore might also be a member of a region-focused Arctic body; this can be verified against Arctic Council membership lists.

Notes Russia's historical membership in G8/G7, illustrating Russia's involvement in high-level international forums.

Use the pattern that Russia participates in major international councils to bolster the hypothesis it would join a major regional forum like the Arctic Council, then check an authoritative Arctic Council member list.

Defines the 'polar type' climate as found mainly north of the Arctic Circle and lists the land areas (Greenland, northern Canada, Alaska, Arctic seaboard of Eurasia) that make up the Arctic region.

A student can check whether the UK has territory north of the Arctic Circle (i.e., is part of the geographic Arctic) — if not, that weakens the likelihood it is an Arctic-state member.

Mentions specific Arctic/northern states and regions involved in Arctic economic activity (Alaska/USA, Canada, USSR/Russia, Siberian ports), implying Arctic governance centers on those states with Arctic territory.

Compare this list of Arctic actors to the UK: if Arctic governance appears centered on states with Arctic coasts/territory, a student can infer whether the UK fits that pattern.

Lists countries often grouped in Arctic-related multilateral contexts (Iceland, Norway, Canada, Russia, United States), showing which developed countries are regularly involved in Arctic issues.

A student can see whether the UK appears among typical Arctic-country groupings; its absence suggests it may not be a core Arctic member.

Identifies the United Kingdom as a major global power (a UN Security Council permanent member), highlighting that global political weight is distinct from regional Arctic membership.

Use this to separate 'global power' membership (e.g., UN bodies) from regional bodies tied to geography—if Arctic membership is geographic, UK global status alone doesn't imply membership.

Notes that polar regions are subject to special regional rules and common governance because they lie outside single-state jurisdiction, implying there are region-specific bodies and rules.

A student can infer that membership of such regional arrangements likely depends on geographic stake in the region, so they should check whether the UK has such a geographic stake.

Notes economic activity (gold, petroleum) in Alaska, showing the United States has territory and interests in the Arctic region.

A student could combine this with the basic fact that states with Arctic territory are typically the parties to Arctic governance bodies to judge whether the US would be involved.

States that have many volcanoes 'in Alaska' are identified as the United States, again linking the US to Arctic/near-Arctic geography.

A student could use a world map to confirm Alaska is US territory in the Arctic/sub-Arctic and infer likely participation in Arctic regional organizations.

Defines the Arctic Ocean as north of North America and Eurasia, connecting North American countries (including the USA) geographically to the Arctic.

Using this geographic definition plus knowledge that the USA has northern territory, a student could infer the US has a stake in Arctic councils.

Lists an alliance (umbrella group) that usually includes the United States alongside Canada, Iceland, Norway and Russia — several of which are Arctic states.

A student could note the overlap of countries in this group with known Arctic states and infer the US is among relevant international actors in Arctic affairs.

States that polar regions are subject to special regional rules and international governance, implying the existence of multilateral Arctic institutions.

A student could combine this with the fact that the US has Arctic territory to reasonably expect US membership in such regional Arctic institutions.