| Summary: | The Arctic and the Baltics represent two abutting regions of growing geostrategic significance and concern for the United States in light of Russia’s assertive campaigns to reestablish its dominance in each region. Despite a comparable Russian threat—characterized by conventional and asymmetric military activities—the U.S. is only recently thinking about strategy in the Arctic compared to its engagement in the Baltics. When faced with a comparable Russian threat, what explains the variance in American strategy in the Arctic and the Baltics? I analyze theories of geopolitics, bureaucratic politics, and historical institutionalism to explain the gap between the U.S.' rhetoric and behavior in addressing U.S. national security, and how domestic variables influence U.S. threat perception and strategic decision-making. Ph.D. Includes bibliographical references
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