21. The Antarctic Treaty System: A Continent for Science and Peace

The Antarctic Treaty turned rivalry into cooperation. Political and environmental philosopher Dr. Alejandra Mancilla traces how overlapping territorial claims, international tensions, and the Cold War led twelve countries to sign the Antarctic Treaty in 1959. The resulting Antarctic Treaty System set the continent aside for peaceful purposes and international scientific cooperation while effectively freezing competing territorial claims. The episode explores environmental protection, membership and decision-making, questions of political legitimacy, and the pressures climate change could place on polar governance. It also asks what the treaty’s model of shared guardianship might teach the rest of the world.Episode Guest: Dr. Alejandra MancillaVisit Dr. Mancilla’s websiteFind Dr. Mancilla’s article hereBrowse Dr. Mancilla’s publications on Google ScholarLearn more about the Antarctic Treaty hereSouth Pole: What if Antarctica had Legal Personhood?Read Antarctic journalist Tiara Walter’s work Episode Transcript and more information on the Pine Forest Media WebsiteFollow Pine Forest Media on Instagram @pineforestmediaHosted, produced and edited by Clark Marchese Cover art and PFM logo by Laurel Wong. Theme music by Nela RuizFind some more Pine Forest Media podcasts belowListen to Oceanography on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to Plastic Podcast on Spotify or Apple PodcastsListen to Something in the Water on Spotify or Apple Podcasts Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.