Managing the Frozen South

Managing the Frozen South: The Creation and Evolution of the Antarctic provides a comprehensive analysis of the Antarctic Treaty System, a groundbreaking international agreement that transformed Antarctica into a nonmilitarized, nuclear-weapons-free zone dedicated to peaceful scientific research. Signed in 1959, the treaty represented an unprecedented triumph of diplomacy, averting potential conflicts over sovereignty and resource exploitation in one of the world's most remote regions. The text delves into the treaty’s origins, its operational principles, and its enduring impact on international cooperation.

The narrative highlights how the treaty emerged as a model of international regimes, where participating nations set aside territorial claims to pursue shared scientific and environmental objectives. The study examines the challenges posed by evolving global interests, particularly in resource exploitation and the growing influence of non-treaty nations. By exploring these dynamics, the book provides valuable insights into the treaty's ability to adapt through auxiliary agreements and its potential vulnerabilities in a shifting geopolitical landscape. This work is essential reading for understanding the complexities of managing global commons and fostering cooperation in the face of competing national interests.

This title is part of UC Press's Voices Revived program, which commemorates University of California Press’s mission to seek out and cultivate the brightest minds and give them voice, reach, and impact. Drawing on a backlist dating to 1893, Voices Revived makes high-quality, peer-reviewed scholarship accessible once again using print-on-demand technology. This title was originally published in 1988.