Week 4: International Antarctica

Lecture 1: The political and legal situation prior to 1959 (Dr Julia Jabour)
The era of discovery and exploration of the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean was followed by a period of tension over who owns Antarctica and who has a right to be there. A unique settlement was reached which has no parallel in international relations today and therefore serves as a useful case study in international relations and international law. If nobody "owns" Antarctica, who will look after it?

Lecture 2: Background to International Law (Dr Julia Jabour)
Before we study the various pieces of international law that are used to administer Antarctica and the Southern Ocean and make up what we call the "Antarctic Treaty System", you will learn about international law. This is different from law as you think of it because it is law made between two or more countries, rather than between a country and its people.

Lecture 3: The Antarctic Treaty 1959 (Dr Julia Jabour)
The solution to the problem of who owns Antarctica and who has a right to be there was the Antarctic Treaty of 1959. This agreement was made between 12 countries and is still in operation 45 years later.

Tutorial: Is an international treaty an appropriate way to administer the Antarctic? If so, what special features of international law ensure careful management of the Antarctic? If not, what alternatives would you suggest, and why?