Karen N Scott and David L VanderZwaag (eds), Research Handbook on Polar Law

The media narrative of the Earth’s poles is often one of struggle, perseverance, and conflict – from exploration to the current “race for resources” and maritime delimitation conflicts. Legal scholars working in the field tend to approach the poles with a focus on cooperation instead. Both the Arctic and the Antarctic showcase unique legal and governance regimes – the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) and the Arctic Council – challenging the classic understanding of sovereignty and international cooperation. Despite the distinctive characteristics of the poles, they both warrant special attention with regards to environmental and cryosphere protection, extractive activities, and demilitarisation.