Frozen Empires: An Environmental History of the Antarctic Peninsula

by Adrian Howkins Narrated by Charles Constant

Overview

Perpetually covered in ice and snow, the mountainous Antarctic Peninsula stretches southward towards the South Pole where it merges with the largest and coldest mass of ice anywhere on the planet. Yet far from being an otherworldly "Pole Apart," the region has the most contested political history of any part of the Antarctic Continent. Since the start of the twentieth century, Argentina, Britain, and Chile have made overlapping sovereignty claims, while the United States and Russia have reserved rights to the entire continent. The environment has been at the heart of these disputes over sovereignty, placing the Antarctic Peninsula at a fascinating intersection between diplomatic history and environmental history.



In Frozen Empires, Adrian Howkins argues that there has been a fundamental continuity in the ways in which imperial powers have used the environment to support their political claims in the Antarctic Peninsula region.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"The careful and detailed research underlying this readable book is evident throughout....The book can be read with confidence by researchers, students, and those with a general interest in Antarctica." — J. Donald Hughes, American Historical Review

"Drawing upon archival research conducted in Argentina, Britain, Chile and the USA, [Howkins] offers an alternative, highly illuminating, environmental and imperial perspective from which to view the [Antarctic] peninsula's history.... Its story offers interesting insights into British history, most notably concerning conservation, economics, empire, law, politics and science." — Peter J. Beck, English Historical Review

"Deeply researched, well written, and strongly recommended for students and scholars, especially those interested in how Antarctica's political past may be prelude to humankinds environmental future." — James Spiller, Isis Journal

"In Frozen Empires, Howkins offers a timely and much-needed intervention on this topic....Frozen Empires demonstrates, in short, the significant role that historians can and should play in environmental politics.."—Emma Shortis, Metascience

Product Details

BN ID:	2940176364057
Publisher:	Tantor Audio
Publication date:	02/09/2021
Edition description:	Unabridged

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