The Antarctic youth coalition : an experiment in citizen participation and south–south cultural diplomacy

Ongoing youth-based programmes providing educational expeditions to Antarctica have been developed by non-state actors, universities, and national Antarctic programs since the early 2000s. Despite the successes and impact of these educational programs, and despite the emergence and growth in recent...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Polar Journal
Main Authors: Salazar, Juan Francisco (R11072), Leane, Elizabeth, Roldan, Gabriela, Fraser, Caleb, Macias Diaz, Katia, Power, Chloe, Garro, Florencia, Silima, Rudzani, Barticevic, Elias
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: U.K., Routledge 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1080/2154896X.2022.2062560
https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:67361
Description
Summary:Ongoing youth-based programmes providing educational expeditions to Antarctica have been developed by non-state actors, universities, and national Antarctic programs since the early 2000s. Despite the successes and impact of these educational programs, and despite the emergence and growth in recent decades of youth-led issues-based movements worldwide, there have been scarce opportunities for young people to have a voice in national and global networks for action on Antarctica. Furthermore, both Antarctic decision-makers and academia have not paid a great deal of attention to youth participation in Antarctic affairs. Drawing on a youth expedition to King George Island in February 2020, the authors designed the Antarctic Youth Coalition as an experiment in youth participation. As a result of the formation of the Antarctic Youth Coalition across five Antarctic gateway cities, we proposed that AYC to provides conceptual and practical platforms for a deeper interrogation of youth participation in Antarctic political, social, economic and environmental matters of concern. This article highlights sustained and active engagement with Antarctic youth projects and the role that young people can play in Antarctic cultural diplomacy.