'Introduction: The Antarctic Treaty 1961-2011' The Polar Journal

• Published in: The Polar Journal
• Main Author: Haward, MG
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd 2011
• Subjects: Studies in Human Society; Policy and Administration; Public Policy; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Argentina; The Antarctic; Antarc*; International Polar Year; The Polar Journal
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2011.586555; http://ecite.utas.edu.au/73021

June 23, 2011 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the entry into force of the AntarcticTreaty. Much has been written about this treaty and its negotiation, with the anniversaryof its signing recognized in a variety of ways.1 The Antarctic Treaty is aremarkable instrument. The treaty, established in the Cold War, and building onunprecedented collaboration between states in the International Geophysical Year(IGY) of 195758, is noteworthy in a number of aspects. The treaty addressed themajor elements of the Antarctic Problem: differing attitudes to territorial claims andthe potential conflict over the overlapping claims of Chile, Argentina and the UnitedKingdom in the Antarctic Peninsula. The Antarctic Treaty set aside this problemthrough the provisions of Article IV. In addition, the treaty demilitarized the Antarcticcontinent (and surrounding ocean) and established a nuclear-free zone. These provisionswere supplemented by the development of an innovative inspection regime.The Antarctic Treaty is a security instrument and, with its focus on science, providesone of the earliest examples of what is now termed environmental security. The treatybuilt on the gentlemans agreement that continued the standstill proposal relatingto territorial acquisition during the IGY. Together with commitments to scientificendeavour developing from the work of the IGY, and more recently reinforcedthrough the third International Polar Year of 200708, the core values of peace andscience have retained their centrality.