The Geopolitics of the Antarctic

Abstract

Abstract. After space, the Antarctic Continent of more than 5 million square miles surrounding the South Pole is humanity's last relatively unexplored frontier Its land appears only where the 15,000 foot peaks of giant mountain ranges break through the ice. The most isolated of the world's seven continents, it was discovered by whalers but was explored only in the present centur. Successive explorations and finally establishment of research stations by 12 nations led to conflicting territorial claims. In 1959, 12 nations, including the U.S. and the U.S.S.R., (joined later by 8 others), concluded a treaty suspending claims, banning military activity and opening up the continent for free use for scientific work. The danger of a clash between socialist as well as capitalist imperialism was illustrated by the Falkland Island War of 1982 when Argentina invaded the dependency and was overwhelmed and expelled by Great Britain. Mutual commercial interests, however, limited military action.