Programa Antártico Brasileiro: a importância geopolítica e geoeconômica da permanência do Brasil como país consultivo no Sistema do Tratado Antártico: a importância da ciência para manutenção das pretensões geopolíticas brasileira na região Antártica

Abstract

Science, nowadays, is moving ahead th e Brazilian Antarctic Program. This paper’s objective is to show Science importance for B razil to reach its geopolitical interests at the frozen continent. Thus, biblio graphic and documental research were done through indirect techniques in libraries and electronic sources. Antarctic is a continent with a hostile weather for human being and presents a great potential for mineral resources. It was verified that scie nce was used as a guideline in the Antarcti c Treaty, signed in 1959, which intended to get a juridic al regimen to solve divergences concerning territorial requests in the frozen continent. Brazil was not invited to sign the Treaty because it had no scienti fic research so far. Therefore, Brazil adhere to the treaty, in 1975, following the principl es of pacific use of the region in favor of Science, with the purpose of being able to influence the decisions about the continent ́s destiny. Consequently, Brazil a ssigned the geopolitical analysts to concern about the territorial position. At the same time, started its own Antarctic Program, in 1982, to do scientific research in the region, which is a requirement to ascend as a consulting part of the treaty what all ows the country to have a voice in the Antarctic Treaty System. The urgen cy for being a consulting part was due to the possibility of a treaty revision , in 1991, a ccording to studies aiming to consent mineral resources exploitation. It did not happen and the Madrid Protocol prohibited any mineral exploitation. On the other hand, the treaty may be revised in 2048, bringing forward this question once more. Despite that, Brazil points out the importance of keeping the capacity of influencing the Antarctic ́s d estin y by its scientific activities, hence that objective remains in its Policies for Antarctic Subjects; National Defense in 1996, 2005 and currently. The main conclusion is that Science is present in all important moments of Brazil’s interests in the Ant arctic continent. Also, it is highlighted the need to keep its status quo in the Antarctic Treaty System, reached by substantial activities in the region, so that strength to Brazil may require its geopolitical interests at the frozen continent.