The Antarctic: A Very Short Introduction [Paperback]

Antarctica attracts great interest from political leaders, journalists, and public audiences around the world. In thisVery Short Introduction, Klaus Dodds presents a modern account of Antarctica, looking closely at contemporary developments in commerce, science, sovreignty, and governance.The Antarctic is one the most hostile natural environments in the world, an extraordinary physical space which changes significantly in shape and size with the passing of the seasons. In thisVery Short Introduction, Klaus Dodds provides an up-to-date account of Antarctica, highlighting the main issues facing the continent today. The book sheds light on the scientific, historical, cultural, and political significance of one of the world's most remote regions, providing the background to the physical geography of the continent. Politically, it is unique as it contains one of the few areas of continental space not claimed by any nation-state. Scientifically, the continental ice sheet has provided us with vital evidence about the Earth's past climate. Looking at how the Antarctic has been explored and represented in the last hundred years, Dodds considers the main exploratory and scientific achievements of the region. In addition, he explains how processes such as globalization mean that the Antarctic is increasingly involved in a wider circuit of ideas, goods, people, trade, and governance--all of which have an impact on the future of the region.Acknowledgements1. Defining the Antarctic2. Discovering the Antarctic3. Claiming and negotiating the Antarctic4. Governing the Antarctic5. Doing Antarctic science6. Exploiting and protecting the AntarcticFurther readingIndexKlaus Doddsis Professor of Geopolitics at Royal Holloway, University of London and a Visiting Fellow at St Cross College, University of Oxford. He is editor ofThe Geographical Journaland Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society. Hl³¤