The Resilience of Scientific Co-operation as a Foundational Principle of the Antarctic Treaty

Abstract This paper explores the resilience of the freedom of scientific investigation as a central pillar of the Antarctic Treaty. We highlight the importance or significance of Antarctic science. Why does it matter? Put simply it matters because science is at the core of the Antarctic Treaty and is at the core of governance more broadly in Antarctica. More significantly, science is of greatest importance because of the contributions it makes to knowledge, and the pointers it provides us in understanding and solving the major environmental challenges of our time. Science is not only the currency or price nation states must pay to have a role in the governance of Antarctica but is also the legitimate reason for presence there. This close alignment between legitimacy as an Antarctic actor and decision-maker and the epistemological validity of scientific research explains why at times the Antarctic Treaty seems challenged by the emergence of new actors in Antarctica. We argue however that this is nothing new and merely a consistent and ongoing theme throughout the history of science in Antarctica. The Antarctic Treaty has always been and continues to be resilient to these pressures. We conclude science and scientific co-operation as one of the four foundational principles of the Antarctic Treaty is in fact very resilient.