The Frozen Frontier: Models for International Cooperation

• Published in: Cooperation and Conflict
• Main Author: Skagestad, Gunnar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: SAGE Publications 1975
• Subjects: Antarctic; Bergen; Svalbard; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/001083677501000304; http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/pdf/10.1177/001083677501000304

Current and emerging developments in the polar regions entail an increased conflict- potential as well as an increased cooperation-potential. On this backdrop the author discusses the possibilities for international cooperation on conflict-preventive measures in the polar regions. A key assumption in this context is that international cooperation as such - independently of the object of cooperation - should be ascribed a positive conflict-preventive function. The discussion, however, is here limited to a few sub ject-areas where international cooperation in the polar regions is of particular interest; notably in scientific research/exploration, economic exploitation, regulatory measures of a practical/operative nature, and regulation of sovereignty- and jurisdiction-status. More particularly, the paper gives a comparative discussion of the Svalbard (Spits bergen) and Antarctic treaties as models for the regulation of so-called 'new terri tories' (a term which encompasses, inter alia, most of the polar regions). Finally, the author examines the aptness of such models to adapt to changing circumstances, and to cover the need for measures of regulation and control in regions where many parties are involved in the developments.