Valuing Antarctica: the imposition of human values on Antarctica

• Main Authors: Evans, Julian, McFadyen, Emma, Moffat-Wood, Alex, Wilson, Daniel
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarc*; Antarctica
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10092/14318

This study investigated individuals‟ personal experience of Antarctica - physical and/or intellectual – in relation to the wider human engagement with the continent. Schwartz‟s (1994) definition of values was used to identify values apparent in personal experiences of Antarctica (through analysis of the authors‟ own values), and in the wider human engagement with Antarctica (through analysis of the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS), Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM) Final Reports from 2001, 2005 and 2010, and the activities conducted in Antarctica). The values of access, cooperation, environmental conservation, exceptionalism, peace and wealth were represented consistently between the authors‟ personal values and in the values of the wider human engagement with Antarctica, whereas historical conservation, globalism, power, science, wilderness/aesthetic value differed. These values and their and their inter-relations provide a useful lens for understanding issues in Antarctica. Recommendations are made for future research to continue the investigation and categorisation of values related to Antarctica, to explore quantitative, statistical analysis of ATCM reports and to investigate the deconstruction of the values identified –particularly science.