‘Latin lebensraum’: the geopolitics of Ibero-American Antarctica

Abstract

Geopolitical thinking has exerted, and continues to exert, a significant influence upon the approaches towards Antarctica taken by the principal nations of South America. During the 1980s the concept of an ‘Ibero-American quadrant’ of Antarctica, located between 0° and 90°W, has acquired growing acceptance in Latin America and Spain. Within this quadrant Argentina and Chile possess long-standing sovereignty claims, while more recently other Latin countries (Brazil, Cuba, Ecuador, Peru, Spain and Uruguay) have established presences therein. The long-standing geopolitical tradition in South America provides the foundation for the contemporary and future geopolitical perceptions held about Antarctica by individual South American countries. A significant trend relates to the emergence of a cooperative and integrative form of geopolitical thought in place of a more traditional nationalist and aggressive approach. Nevertheless, the concept of Ibero-American cooperation, though possessing the potential of enhancing the effectiveness of individual Antarctic programmes, raises the possibility of ranging Ibero-Latin American countries against other states involved in Antarctica.