What is Antarctica?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Antarctica is an integral element to the study of global systems and global governance – for good reason. It offers an interesting case study of how nation-states have assembled a shared understanding of how to govern a continent and surrounding ocean that has never had an indigenous human population. The Antarctic Treaty (1959) lies at the heart of this consensus-based model of regional governance. There are rules, norms and values that underpin the resultant governance. Remarkably, nation-states accepted that territorial claims would be deferred for the duration of the Treaty and worked purposefully to find areas of agreement. Yet, Antarctica remains a contested space. It is geopolitically contested with fears that great power competition might disrupt further that consensual-based model. Beyond that, Antarctica has been capable of entertaining both complementary and rival geographical imaginaries, from being thought of as a scientific laboratory to a planetary common. Most recently, there has been a concerted attempt to think of Antarctica as an object invested with legal personality. Looking ahead, the world’s oceans, polar regions and even outer space are going to face growing scrutiny and challenge as resource worries, climate change and strategic competition makes themselves felt.