Constructing Antarctic security : an examination of the construction of Antarctic security discourses in English-language academic literature, 2008 – 2022. ...

• Main Author: Lord, Thomas
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: University of Canterbury 2023
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*
• Online Access: https://dx.doi.org/10.26021/14949; https://ir.canterbury.ac.nz/handle/10092/105878

The concept of security has never been far from discussions about Antarctic geopolitics. Concerns about the national security of states active in the Antarctic were arguably at the heart of the negotiations leading up to the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. These concerns are reflected in the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty relating to the demilitarisation and non-weaponisation of the continent, and the proverbial ‘freezing’ of territorial claims. Since the mid-20th century, however, the concept of security has expanded significantly to include a range of issues distinct from national security. Furthermore, differing security discourses have emerged: that is, differing understandings of whose security is at stake, from what, and the means through which security can be achieved. This dissertation adopts a critical approach to security to consider how the concept of security has been used in relation to the Antarctic in English-language academic literature from 2008 to 2022. It outlines five key ...