Inspections in the Antarctic Treaty System - Instruments for Peace and Cooperation?

Abstract

When the Antarctic Treaty was signed in 1959, it included an article relatingto the right of Treaty Parties to pursue inspections anywhere in the AntarcticTreaty Area, including in research stations which were not their own. TheAntarctic Treaty, which was created in the context of the Cold War, establishedthe principles of peaceful use and cooperation in the region, including thedemilitarisation of the continent and a ban on testing nuclear weapons, nuclearexplosions, and the disposal of nuclear waste. Inspections were established inthis context to ensure these provisions were complied with by all TreatyParties. As inspections are a product of Cold War antagonisms, this researchseeks to understand whether other international conflicts between TreatyParties have influenced the use and purpose of inspections, and whetherinspections successfully ensure compliance with Treaty provisions.