2025-2026 NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL POLICY
DEBATE TOPIC

PROBLEM AREA I: ARCTIC

Resolved: The United States federal government should significantly increase its exploration and/or development of the Arctic.

Widely known as the "final frontier," the Arctic is filled with current interest by geopolitical, economic, and environmental actors. The Arctic Ocean, and the different biodiversity and geopolitical arguments that it entails, is something that has been discussed around the margins in debates in the past, but not explicitly debated in policy debate despite past student interest. The Arctic has a wealth of projects occurring within it, including U.S. cooperation with the Arctic Council, NOAA and NSF research, and more. This allows the topic to be widely accessible through governmental websites and provides educational opportunities for novice and varsity debaters alike. Novices have an abundance of potential areas for debate including economic and environmental issues, while Varsity debaters can take the topic further by discussing geopolitical, economic, and Indigenous issues within the Arctic Circle.

On the affirmative, debaters will have the opportunity to take a deep dive into different exploration, biodiversity, scientific research, and trade opportunities. As glaciers melt and shift, there is opportunity for exploration of the Arctic Ocean and its borders, research of potential viruses and bacteria that may surface, and an ability to develop military bases to protect certain areas of the Arctic. The affirmative can also discuss different plans that can prioritize Indigenous voices and protections for that land.

On the negative, debaters will have the opportunity to discuss different agents that should explore and develop the Arctic instead, including but not limited to the Arctic Council, Arctic Peoples, and more. The negative will also be able to access countless disadvantages regarding the conservation of land, economic impacts and geopolitical fallout from different trade routes opening, and biodiversity implications of exploration of the Arctic Ocean. Debaters will also have the opportunity to critique development of Indigenous land, the redrawing of borders as glaciers shift and melt, and securitization.

Megan Hagaman, Administrator
(785) 273-5329
mhagaman@kshsaa.org

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