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A Few Acres of Ice
Environment, Sovereignty, and "Grandeur" in the French Antarctic
Janet Martin-Nielsen (Author)
9781501772092
Hardback, published 15 October 2023
276 pages, 6 b&w halftones, 11 color halftones, 3 maps - 3 Maps - 6 Halftones, black and white - 11 Halftones, color
22.9 x 15.2 x 2.2 cm, 0.907 kg
Janet Martin-Nielsen's lively account of the less well-known French relationship with their Antarctic territories is a welcome addition to the field.
A Few Acres of Ice is an in-depth study of France's complex relationship with the Antarctic, from the search for Terra Australis by French navigators in the sixteenth century to France's role today as one of seven states laying claim to part of the white continent. Janet Martin-Nielsen focuses on environment, sovereignty, and science to reveal not only the political, commercial, and religious challenges of exploration but also the interaction between environmental concerns in polar regions and the geopolitical realities of the twenty-first century. Martin-Nielsen details how France has worked (and at times not worked) to perform sovereignty in Terre Adélie, from the territory's integration into France's colonial empire to France's integral role in making the environment matter in Antarctic politics. As a result, A Few Acres of Ice sheds light on how Terre Adeìlie has altered human perceptions and been constructed by human agency since (and even before) its discovery. Open access edition funded by KTH-Sweden.
Introduction: The French Antarctic
1. "All That Is Required Is to Discover It"
2. An Unexpected Territory
3. Apathy and Neglect
4. Formalizing Sovereignty
5. Science and Presence
6. Growing Maturity
7. Crisis and Choices
8. Environmental Authority
9. An Uncertain Future
Epilogue: An Antarctic Power Malgré Soi