Antarctica's Rising Geopolitical Significance in the 21st Century

Antarctica's Rising Geopolitical Significance in the 21st Century Antarctica, the vast, ice-covered continent at the Earth's southern pole, operates under the distinctive international cooperative framework known as the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS). Established formally with the Antarctic Treaty's entry into force in 1961, the ATS emerged from a rich history of human exploration and a burgeoning scientific appreciation of the continent's unique value. Its initial, primary objective was carefully defined: to safeguard the continent for peaceful scientific research while strategically setting aside the deeply contentious issues surrounding national territorial sovereignty claims. However, the dawn of the 21st century has ushered in a marked intensification of global interest in Antarctica. This surge is propelled by a confluence of powerful factors: the visibly accelerating impacts of global climate change, the tantalizing potential for discovering untapped natural res...