Research On Russia’s Antarctic Policy And Practice From The Perspective Of National Interests

In an era of globalization and with the global warming,scientific and technological progress has brought about great improvement on exploration and development of the Antarctic by human.Different categories of activities in the Antarctic thus become more and more active.At the same time,those activities also bring instability to the system of the Antarctic governance,it faces many risks and challenges.Especially in the last few years,many countries introduced active Antarctic policies,used comprehensive measures of politics,law,diplomacy,scientific investigation as well as environment protection,which aim at strengthening substantial existence in the Antarctic,enhancing the international status in the Antarctic politics,and hoping that achieve their own national interests in the Antarctic will be maximized.The thesis searches for the Russian wisdom,scheme and mode of Russia’s participation in Antarctic governance through the research on the Russia’s Antarctic policy and practice.And it is also expected to provide practical enlightenment and reference for China to carry out Antarctic activities,participate in Antarctic affairs,and deepen Antarctic governance in a better way in the future,so as to realize national interests and good governance in Antarctic.As a great power that has participated in Antarctic governance,Russia has a long-term and rich Antarctic policy and practice.Russia has been exploring Antarctica for 200 years since the Czarist Russian government sent an expedition in1819.Russia takes the Antarctic expedition as a breakthrough,pursues the leading position in Antarctic scientific research,environmental protection,logistics support and international affairs,and realizes other national interests in Antarctic on the basis of realizing the interest of scientific research in Antarctic.In practical terms,Russia has carried out 64 Antarctic expedition so far and accumulated lots of experience on Antarctic expedition experience,has achieved abundant research results.On the issue of territorial sovereignty in the Antarctic,Russia has not claimed sovereignty over the Antarctic,never recognized the claims of sovereignty over the Antarctic made by other countries.On the issue of the development and management of Antarctic resources,Soviet Union was engaged in fishing activities in Antarctic,such as whale and krill fishing.And also attempted to exploit Antarctic mineral resources.On the issue of protection of the Antarctic Environment,has carried out environmental scientific research and environmental protection work in Antarctic.Not only that,in the process of extensive participation in Antarctic affairs,Russia has formulated and promulgated a series of normative legal documents about Antarctic activities in different historical periods.Russia has signed a series of international conventions related to Antarctic at an international level,has strengthened international cooperation in Antarctic through bilateral agreements and memorandums of understanding with relevant countries at the bilateral level,has transformed the international legal regime of Antarctic into domestic legislation through its national legislature,providing legal guarantees for its activities in Antarctic at the domestic level.From the perspective of national interests,this thesis divides Russia’s national interests in Antarctic into scientific research interests,political interests,economic interests and environmental interests.This thesis makes a systematic and in-depth analysis of Russia’s Antarctic policy and practice by using the research methods of literature research,investigation and interview,historical analysis,case analysis and multi-disciplinary comprehensive research.The research founds that the emphasis of Russian Antarctic policy and practice in different historical periods is different,and the content is constantly updated and improved,but the main Antarctic national interests and strategic objectives that affect Russian Antarctic policy and practice have not changed.The guiding principle of the development and adjustment of the Russia’s Antarctic policy has always been to safeguard its national interests in Antarctic.As a great power on research expedition to Antarctic,Russia’s Antarctic policy and practice have different international influence in different periods,especially in the Soviet period,as the main competitor of the United States in the Antarctic,its policy and practice have far-reaching implications for matters in Antarctic and other national policies.In order to safeguard national interests in Antarctic,Russia has defined its national interests and strategic objectives in Antarctic,actively carried out Antarctic expeditions,improved its national legislation on Antarctic,strengthened an active and influential presence in Antarctic and continued to promote cooperation in Antarctic with relevant countries.In the process of participating in Antarctic governance,Russia has developed a unique system of its own in terms of Antarctic policy,which is oriented by national interests,based on scientific research,protected by law and owning international cooperation.It can be specifically reflected by Russia’s clear national interests in Antarctic,which is not only the fundamental driving force for countries to participate in Antarctic governance,but also the starting point and final destination for countries to formulate and implement Antarctic policies.It can highlight the essential position of Antarctic scientific research in Antarctic governance,which is the main way for Russia to strengthen its substantial presence in Antarctica,and also an important guarantee for Russia to enhance its voice in Antarctic governance.It can comprehensively apply international and domestic laws,fully respect and effectively use international treaties within the framework of the Antarctic Treaty System,improve the domestic legislative system in the management of Antarctic activities,and provide laws protection for the development of Antarctic activities.It can provide assistants in promoting international cooperation in Antarctic,take full advantage of scientific research,transportation support and administrative support in Antarctic,and enhance Russia’s international status and prestige through international cooperation in Antarctic.On the basis of the research of Russia’s Antarctic policy and practice,we can predict the future direction of Russia’s Antarctic policy: in the background of the continuing rationality of the Antarctic Treaty System,the Antarctic Treaty System will continue to exist and play a role for a long time.Russia will continue to maintain and develop the Antarctic Treaty System in general,maintain the Antarctic as a region of peace,stability and cooperation;the study of Antarctic will continue to be the top priority of the Antarctic policy for the future period;the domestic legislation of Antarctic will be further improved and the institutional mechanisms for scientific and regulatory participation in Antarctic affairs will be established;the protection of the Antarctic environment will be further emphasized and the international community’s recognition and consensus on the protection of the Antarctic environment will be sought.Both China and Russia are important stakeholders in Antarctic affairs,as well as the states parties to the Antarctic Treaty and the Antarctic Treaty Consultative parties,as well as major countries involved in Antarctic governance.The two countries have a wide range of common interests in Antarctic geopolitics,scientific research,economy,environment and so on.From the geographical point of view,China and Russia are not part of the Antarctic gateway countries;from the claims of sovereignty over the Antarctic,China and Russia neither made any territorial claims nor is a so-called "territorial claimant".However,both China and Russia have made Antarctic scientific expeditions and research as an important way to participate in Antarctic affairs.Based on the relevant research on Russia’s Antarctic policy and practice,we can draw up four lessons of China’s participation in Antarctic affairs:clarifying the national interests in Antarctic,formulating scientific Antarctic policy;raising the level of Antarctic scientific research and strengthening the substantial presence in the Antarctic;improving the management and coordination mechanism in Antarctic,formulating the Antarctic law and regulation;maintaining the Antarctic Treaty System and actively promoting international cooperation in Antarctic.