ABSTRACT
THE ANTARCTIC TREATY: A CONTINENT MANAGED BY THE ANTARCTIC TREATY SYSTEM
During 1981 the Twelth Consultative Meeting of the Antarctic Treaty powers held in Buenos Aires was used to mark the 20th.anniversary of the entry into force of the treaty, and in turn the occasion prompted the meeting to reflect upon the nature and achievements of 'the evolving system of obligations that had been undertaken by the Consultative Parties1 [1]. These reflections emphasised the significant contributions made to international politics as well as to the cause of scientific investigation by 'the Antarctic Treaty System of continually evolving consultative procedures', which 'has produced recommendations covering a wide variety of subjects which benefit from international cooperation'. In this context, attention was focussed upon 'the System's achievements', in such spheres as conservation and international scientific cooperation, in order to provide the foundation for the assertion that 'the Antarctic Treaty System of arrangements dealing with the practical requirements for international action is the only widely accepted arrangement which exists in the area'.
