A Few Acres of Ice: Environment, Sovereignty, and "Grandeur" in the French Antarctic

**__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 Adeìlie, 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.

A Few Acres of Ice is anin-depth study of France's complex relationship with the Antarctic,from the search for Terra Australis by French navigators in thesixteenth century to France's role today as one of seven stateslaying claim to part of the white continent. JanetMartin-Nielsen focuses on environment, sovereignty, and science toreveal not only the political, commercial, and religious challengesof exploration but also the interaction between environmentalconcerns in polar regions and the geopolitical realities of thetwenty-first century.

Martin-Nielsen details how France has worked (and at times notworked) to perform sovereignty in Terre Adélie, from theterritory's integration into France's colonial empire to France'sintegral role in making the environment matter in Antarcticpolitics. As a result, A Few Acres of Ice sheds light onhow Terre Adeìlie has altered human perceptions and beenconstructed by human agency since (and even before) itsdiscovery.

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. Contents 7 List of Illustrations 9 Acknowledgments 11 Introduction: The French Antarctic 13 1. “All That Is Required Is to Discover It” 21 2. An Unexpected Territory 38 3. Apathy and Neglect 56 4. Formalizing Sovereignty 74 5. Science and Presence 89 6. Growing Maturity 113 7. Crisis and Choices 143 8. Environmental Authority 160 9. An Uncertain Future 187 Epilogue: An Antarctic Power Malgré Soi 199 Notes 209 References 231 Index 269