The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings — Form and Procedure

• Published in: Cooperation and Conflict
• Main Author: Hanevold, Truls
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 1971
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001083677100600304; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/001083677100600304

The Antarctic Treaty of 1959 established a consultative system for the purpose of passing recommendations to the signatory governments in pursuit of the objects and principles of the treaty. This article is a study in international negotiations. After an introduction detailing the background for the negotiations, attention is drawn to the possible long-term aims and strategies of the parties in view of their attitudes on the question of rights and claims in Antarctica and their capabilities for conducting scientific research there. In part two the preparations for the consultative meetings and their influence on the decision-making process are described. Part three deals with the consultative meetings themselves, how the delegations are composed, and their instructions and behaviour during the negotiations. Different types of sessions and their particular characteristics are discussed. The dynamics of the negotiations are treated in part four, which includes a discussion of strategies, types of arguments, self-commitments, concessions and strategies.