After thirty-five years the regime based on the Antarctic Treaty is more vigorous than ever. Here leading scholars of international law and international relations examine the effectiveness and legitimacy of this regime by asking two questions: are current changes affecting the regime's ability to cope with major problems in the region, and how do those changes affect its standing amongst parties to the Treaty and in the wider international community? Individual chapters deal with the Antarctic regimes for marine living resources, mineral activities, environmental protection, and tourism. Throughout, a keen eye is kept on how those components interact and reinforce each other. This analysis is supported by in-depth studies of compatibility and tension between the Antarctic Treaty System and the international community at large. It also draws upon case studies of how domestic concerns and decision-making in four selected countries affect international co-operation in the Antarctic.

The focus of this study is on Dutch Antarctic policy. In order to explain Dutch Antarctic policy from the late 1950s until 1990 and to place it in a broader context, Dutch policy will be compared with the Antarctic policies of Belgium and Germany (Federal Republic of Germany, FRG) in the same period. 6 The comparison offers insights into the functioning of the ATS and into the roles - if any - of the three countries in this international regime in the period under investigation. This adds another central question to this research: How does Dutch Antarctic policy compare with the Belgian and German Antarctic policies in the same period?

Antarctica is renowned for its extreme cold; yet surprisingly, radar measurements have revealed a vast network of lakes, rivers, and streams several kilometers beneath the Antarctic ice sheet. Sealed from Earth's atmosphere for millions of years, they may provide vital information about microbial evolution, the past climate of the Antarctic, and the formation of ice sheets, among other things. The next stage of exploration requires direct sampling of these aquatic systems. However, if sampling is not done cautiously, the environmental integrity and scientific value of these environments could be compromised. At the request of the National Science Foundation, this National Research Council assesses what is needed to responsibly explore subglacial lakes. Exploration of Antarctic Subglacial Aquatic Environments concludes that it is time for research on subglacial lakes to begin, and this research should be guided by internationally agreed upon protocols. The book suggests an initial protocol, which includes full characterization of the lakes by remote sensing, and minimum standards for biological and other types of contamination.

These three volumes contain a comprehensive & current documentation of sources of international environmental law (200 instruments) in a handy version. Several of these documents were never printed elsewhere. Volume 1 embodies the important declarations, resolutions or drafts of international organizations & bodies: 25 UNO/UNEP/FAO documents (including all UNEP-guidelines), 15 resolutions of the three recording bodies (International Law Association, Institut de Droit International & ILC), 14 ECE-Declarations/Recommendations, 32 OECD-Decisions/Recommendations, 10 Resolutions/Recommendations of the Council of Europe, 9 Declarations on Climate Change/Sustainable Development, 9 important Drafts (including the US-Restatement & the new ECE-Draft Convention on Transboundary Watercourses). Volumes 2 & 3 contain the bior multilateral agreements: 28 global or regional Agreements for the protection of seas (including the new Lisbon Convention & the Kingston Protocol), 17 Agreements of Regimes of European, American or African Rivers (including the Guidelines/Action Programmes for Lake Constance & Rhine, & the consolidated version of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement), 14 global & 9 regional Agreements for the protection of species & nature (including the new Protocol for the Antarctic), 2 Conventions for the protection of soils (control of wastes), 11 Agreements for the protection of air/atmosphere (including the new Geneva VOCs-Protocol) & documents for the Earth Summit (2 UN-Resolutions, Drafts of Earth Charter, Biodiversity & Climate Convention). Several documents are of 1991 (a few of December 1991). The volumes contain introductions to each part, references, basic data of the treaties, & three forewords ( G. Handl, H.D. Genscher & Prince Charles ).

This book examines the post-Cold War challenges facing Antarctic governance. It seeks to understand the interests of new players in Antarctic affairs such as China, India, Korea and Malaysia, and how other key players such as Russia and the USA or claimant states such as New Zealand or France are coping in the new global order. Antarctica is the world's fifth largest continent and its territories are claimed by seven different states. Since 1961 Antarctica has been managed under the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), a regime which, according to its critics, by the terms of its membership effectively excludes most of the nations of the world. This book examines the post-Cold War challenges facing Antarctic governance, and is organized thematically into three sections: Part 1 considers the role of Antarctic politics in the current post-Cold War, post-colonial era and the impact this new political environment is having on the ATS. Part 2 looks at the competing foreign policy objectives of a representative range of countries with Antarctic activities. Part 3 examines issues that have the potential to destabilise the order of the Antarctic Treaty System, such as unrestricted tourism and new advances in science and technology. The Emerging Politics of Antarctica will be of interest to students and scholars of international politics, polar studies and foreign policy studies.

The Antarctic and Southern Ocean are hotspots for contemporary endeavours to oversee 'the last frontier' of the Earth. The Handbook on the Politics of Antarctica offers a wide-ranging and comprehensive overview of the governance, geopolitics, international law, cultural studies and history of the region. Four thematic sections take readers from the earliest human encounters to contemporary resource exploitation and climate change. Written by leading experts, the Handbook brings together the very best interdisciplinary social science and humanities scholarship on the Antarctic and Southern Ocean.

Official record of the Conference on Antarctic Resources Policy organized by the Institute of International Studies of the University of Chile in October 1982. Papers cover the present state of Antarctic knowledge; policy for the conservation of living species; the exploitation of minerals; legal issues; and the prospects for future cooperation.

Cruises are the primary form of tourism in the Polar Regions and cruise ship tourism in both the Arctic and Antarctic is expanding rapidly. The industry has moved beyond its infancy, and is now entering a maturing phase with increased numbers and types of vessels, more demanding routes, and more regular and predictable patterns of activity. The increase in cruise activities, and the associated risks of accidents, as well as the potential and actual impacts of the large numbers of tourists in the polar regions bring with it management challenges for sustainable use of these regions. This book discusses critically the issues around environmental and social sustainability of the cruise industry in Polar Regions. Authors from Canada, USA, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are experts in their respective fields and take an innovative, critical and at times controversial approach to the subject.

This one-stop reference is a perfect resource for anyone interested in the North and South Poles, whether their interest relates to history, wildlife, or the geography of these regions in the news today. Global warming, a hot topic among scholars of geography and science, has led to increased interest in studying the earth's polar ice caps, which seem to be melting at an alarming rate. This accessible, two-volume encyclopedia lays a foundation for understanding global warming and other issues related to the North and South Poles. Approximately 350 alphabetically arranged, user-friendly entries treat key terms and topics, important expeditions, major figures, territorial disputes, and much more. Readers will find information on the explorations of Cook, Scott, Amundsen, and Peary; articles on humpback whales, penguins, and polar bears; and explanations of natural phenomena like the Aurora Australis and the polar night. Expedition tourism is covered, as is climate change. Ideal for high school and undergraduate students studying geography, social studies, history, and earth science, the encyclopedia will provide a better understanding of these remote and unfamiliar lands and their place in today's world.