The system of international co-operation in the Antarctic has been
evolving rapidly since the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959.
Inextricably linked to this co-operation is the question of the rational
management of Antarctic resources. In this book Professor Orrego Vicuna
examines in depth the legal framework - the Antarctic Treaty,
sovereignty, jurisdiction and the law of the sea - as it relates to the
exploitation of Antarctic minerals. This is fast becoming a live issue
with the ever-growing potential for the development of these resources.
The first part of the book examines the main characteristics of the
international legal framework governing the co-operation of states in
Antarctica, particularly in relation to resource conservation. Against
this background, in the second part of the book, the regime for mineral
resources is discussed in sufficient detail to identify the basic issues
and interests which have to be accommodated in order to attain an
acceptable convention. The final part of the book considers the
important set of questions raised by the interest of the world community
at large in the Antarctic: most significantly, the initiatives
concerning a broader international participation under the auspices of
the United Nations.
