Polar Geopolitics?Knowledge,Resources and Legal Regimes

This is a strong, balanced and provocative collection that is truly more than the sum of its parts, thanks to well-informed editorial hands. I am sure that this volume will become a standard reference in future discussions of polar geopolitics, for many years to come. This is a very valuable book.' - Frances D. Abele, Carleton University, Canada. The polar regions (the Arctic and Antarctic) have enjoyed widespread public attention in recent years, as issues of conservation, sustainability, resource speculation and geopolitical manoeuvring have all garnered considerable international media interest. This critical collection of new and original papers - the first of its kind - offers a comprehensive exploration of these and other topics, consolidating the emergent field of polar geopolitics. The expert international contributors to this volume offer a range of insightful comparative, interdisciplinary and global perspectives on polar issues. Key topics discussed include resource extraction, regime formation, knowledge construction, border issues, governance and treaties, and indigenous livelihoods. Contributions from scholars of history, geography, political science, anthropology and international law make this a truly comprehensive take on the current state and future prospects of both the polar regions and polar geopolitics as a distinct discipline. Students and professors of geopolitics, political science and geography - especially those with an interest in the polar regions - will find much of value in this book's concrete expression of a new and fascinating field.