Antarctic Treaty System An Assessment: Proceedings of a Workshop Held at Beardmore South Field Camp, Antarctica, January 7-13, 1985 (1986) / Chapter Skim
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5. Antarctic Conflict and International Cooperation
5. Antarctic Conflict and International Cooperation
Pages 55-64
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From page 55... ...
In this regard it might be useful to draw a comparison with the case of the Arctic, which is also a relatively isolated region of the world because of its climatic conditions and is similarly situated on the fringe of major international routes.1 Nevertheless, this situation has certainly not prevented the Arctic from being an increasingly conflict-prone region, involving not only the major powers of the world but also various other countries that are geographically related to this northern area. Although Antarctica is today an area where peace has been effectively preserved, this was not always so.
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From page 56... ...
LOCALIZED TERRITORIAL DISPUTES The first type of conflict has involved discussions about title to territory, effective occupation, and given activities related to such territories. The AngloArgentine-Chilean dispute over the Antarctic Peninsula and associated islands has been one such conflict, although at given points in time in the past the dispute could be seen as escalating into some of the other types mentioned.2 In this particular case the dispute referred not only to legal and historic title and rights but to every imaginable specific activity undertaken by any of the three countries as well.
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From page 57... ...
In general, all other questions have been left pending. The judicial approach was attempted by the United Kingdom on one occasion, but it did not succeed.8 The difficult nature of territorial questions in Antarctica has indicated that only through complex international arrangements, such as that of the Antarctic Treaty, can the issue be satisfactorily handled without prompting more acute kinds of crises.
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From page 58... ...
A tripartite naval declaration was signed in 1949 between Argentina, Chile, and the United Kingdom, undertaking as a measure of detente not to send warships south of 60°S latitude in order to prevent armed engagements.l° This early form of demilitarization of the continent proved successful, and it later influenced the ideas that led to the signature of the Antarctic Treaty. However, it was only the latter instrument that really changed the political environment in Antarctica, providing a framework to highlight cooperation and minimize confrontation.
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From page 59... ...
In this regard, it should not be forgotten that German submarines operated in antarctic waters during World War II, inflicting heavy damage on the merchant fleets and fishing vessels of a number of countries.ll The German and Japanese interests in Antarctica during the war were enormously influential in the development of territorial claims to that continent. The Norwegian claim materialized at the moment when it was felt that a potential German claim had to be stopped.l2 Germany and Japan had been following U.S.
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From page 60... ...
While there were continued references to peaceful uses, it is well known that such-uses have been interpreted by the major powers as being compatible with the conducting of peaceful nuclear explosions. It was only through an active diplomatic effort undertaken during the negotiation of the Antarctic Treaty that such steps in the domain of nuclear policy were specifically prohibited and remain so until this day.~7 Just as the situation during World War II prompted diplomatic initiatives to forestall possible moves by the opposite side, so the cold war resulted in similar approaches related to the broader international arrangements sponsored by the major powers.
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From page 61... ...
This was partly so because of the specific provisions of the treaty regulating questions such as claims, peaceful uses, and prohibitions of some activities but most importantly because of the positive environment of international cooperation that was established by means of these arrangements, this being in direct contrast with the antagonisms that had prevailed before. Major powers and other countries have learned to work together in a constructive spirit, which has provided the appropriate framework for a real process of detente Here again the antarctic framework can provide a useful example for similar efforts in other areas of the world.
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From page 62... ...
Another important consideration is that the treaty approach is not a rigid one; it has proved its capacity to evolve and adapt to new circumstances ana requirements of antarctic cooperation. The various regimes dealing with the conservation and development of natural resources are paramount examples of this evolution, which, to the required extent, has also included greater institutional development.
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From page 63... ...
4. Pinochet de la Barra, O
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From page 64... ...
Politica Antarctica de Chile . A forthcoming book on the emerging regime of Antarctic mineral resources by the author of this chapter discusses the broad range of ideas that have been proposed to organize the Antarctic regime.
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