Softpower or Hardpower?Some Issues on India’s and China’s Antarctic Programs

This paper states that even though the Antarctic Treaty is a remarkable instrument for peaceful collaboration and scientific research, it is, basically, a by-product of the Cold War that reaffirms a particular status quo. This paper explores whether the ATS will meet the needs of an emerging world o...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Witker, Ivan
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:Spanish
Published: Universidad Andina Simón Bolívar, Sede Ecuador 2014
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.uasb.edu.ec/index.php/comentario/article/view/34
Description
Summary:This paper states that even though the Antarctic Treaty is a remarkable instrument for peaceful collaboration and scientific research, it is, basically, a by-product of the Cold War that reaffirms a particular status quo. This paper explores whether the ATS will meet the needs of an emerging world order. Particularly, the paper evaluates the ATS in the face of new global challenges, both internal and external to the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) itself, as well as power shifting processes on a world scale, climate change and the changinginterests of new states. China is a key component in understanding this issue because its Antarctic engagement is entering a new phase one that challenges current multilateral provisions. China’s Antarctic program will be analyzed within the framework of International Relations approaches and theories. El artículo sostiene que el Sistema del Tratado Antártico (STA), pese a ser un útil instrumento para dar contexto a la colaboración pacífica, emprendimientos de investigación y desmilitarización, es en lo básico resultado de la Guerra Fría. En la actualidad, los nuevos desafíos al interior y exterior del STA, los cambios en las correlaciones de poder a escala global, el cambio climático y el incremento del interés de nuevos Estados, plantean si el STA es congruente con el orden emergente. China es una pieza clave para entender el problema planteado, ya que su involucramiento en cuestiones antárticas entra en una nueva fase que desafía las actuales provisiones del multilateralismo. Su programa antártico reúne los criterios para una reflexión desde los estudios internacionales.