The Geopolitics of Islands

The geopolitics of islands are fascinating and disputes over them tend to bring out the worst in states. As incentives for claiming islands increase, and fears over rising sea levels in some regions have become manifest, so the intensity and complexity of the disputes have increased. That the international community has never been able to arrive at a clear consensus of what defines an island has further confused matters. Richard Schofield, international authority on borders and boundaries, here provides a major study of island sovereignty disputes. In so doing he brings a much needed multidisciplinary approach to bear, combining insights from geography, history, law and politics.