Searching for an Antarctic identity at the Antarctic Gateway Cities of Cape Town (South Africa), Christchurch (New Zealand), Hobart (Australia), Punta Arenas (Chile), and Ushuaia (Argentina) by Gabriela Roldan A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy October 2020 Gateway Antarctica, University of Canterbury - Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha Map by Bronwyn Gay and Gabriela Roldan, 2020. ii Abstract The Antarctic gateway cities occupy a central role in providing access to Antarctica for people and goods. Located in the periphery of the Antarctic region, the gateways have developed many connections with the Southern Continent and, in general, they concentrate the polar political, economic and cultural associations of their host countries. This thesis seeks to explore the connections between people, ideas and knowledge in the cities of Cape Town (South Africa), Christchurch (New Zealand), Hobart (Australia), Punta Arenas (Chile) and Ushuaia (Argentina) and the Antarctic region, and to understand how these polar associations may influence gateway citizens in the construction of their identity. Central to these discussions is the influence Antarctic geopolitical agendas of the countries hosting the gateway cities have on their, and their citizens’, connections with Antarctica. Four of the five gateways are regional cities within Antarctic claimant countries. Due largely to coincidence of geography and politics, these cities occupy the role of Antarctic gateways, and receive national and international recognition of hosting associated polar agencies, as well as the economic benefits from the business generated by movement to and from Antarctica. Conversely, the South African gateway presents a distinctive case from the others; based in a non-claimant country and with historic internal power struggles, the largest of all gateways relates differently to Antarctica. This research employed qualitative methods and followed the principles of Constructivist Grounded Theory. Thirty-six semi-structured interviews were conducted in the Antarctic gateways, supported by non-participant observation, extant texts, and photographs obtained in each city. Data analysis was assisted by scholarly literature on identity, nationalism, place attachment, values, and cultural representations of Antarctica. The findings of this thesis indicate that Antarctica is a powerful place that inspires significant and long-lasting connections with people, to the extent of influencing personal and social identities. Antarctica appeals to individuals from a socio-cultural perspective, which inspires emotional responses for conservation advocacy and protection. Yet, the values ascribed to Antarctica and actions taken for its protection reflect nationalistic discourses and geopolitical influences. This research found that gateway communities do not have a common identity with Antarctica. However, some individuals in these communities have strong personal connections to Antarctica, although these have not been formed as a result of them residing in an Antarctic gateway city. The many and varied connections that the gateways maintain with Antarctica are iii not sufficient to support the construction of an identity with the Antarctic. In fact, gateway community members are often unaware of these connections, or actively contest or resist them. Moreover, this research identified that geopolitical influence, socio-economic inequalities, race politics, and colonialist cultural representations of Antarctica affect how people from the gateways perceive, and connect, with Antarctica. This thesis attempts to address the gaps of knowledge in Antarctic gateways and human engagements with Antarctica. It explores the impacts of socio-cultural representations and popular geopolitics of the southern polar region in the gateways communities. In addition, it examines the influence of policy, economic interests, territorial claims, entrenched nationalism, and place attachment in and with Antarctica. This thesis revisits the historical, contemporary, economic, and cultural perspectives of each gateway city, and argues that without the geopolitical interests and territorial assertions in Antarctica of their host countries, the gateways themselves have little influence and power in Antarctic matters. However, this research argues that the role of the gateways within the international polar community goes beyond the transport logistics function and generator of local revenue, and suggests that a council of Antarctic gateways could have a place within the Antarctic Treaty System in an Expert Group capacity. This thesis also reveals that the common use of the concept of Antarctic gateway is unclear and limited to transportational facilities and services only, and proposes a new definition grounded on the multifaceted associations that the cities maintain with Antarctica. The Antarctic gateway is (re)defined here as the following: A city located within close proximity to the Antarctic region, culturally connected with the South, host to a dynamic community where knowledge of Antarctic science, policy, management, technology, and logistics is manifested in everyday activities, and having the necessary transport network and infrastructure to offer comprehensive access to Antarctica, and, in return, to benefit from its polar linkages. Finally, findings from this thesis indicate that Antarctica is an unattainable place for some members of the communities at the gateways. Antarctic is seen as a region reserved only for the privileged. This work discusses the value of popularizing Antarctic education at the gateways, and proposes rethinking the approach to Antarctic experiences and knowledge (e.g. academic, scientific, and policy) beyond the traditional boundaries on wealth, language and geopolitics, to include the communities of the cities closely connected with Antarctica. iv Acknowledgments This research thesis, like many others, would have not been achieved without the support, contribution and guidance of many people who deserve to be mentioned. Firstly, I wish to thank all my research participants for their time and generous sharing of their thoughts; their willingness to participate was encouraging and exciting, without their contributions this work would have no substance. At the gateways, I met and reunited with many people who supported my work in one way or another. A special thank you to Henry Valentine, who once told me my research idea was worth pursuing; to the late Eric Assendelft and to Chloe Dear, who trusted me with my first academic job. A big muchas gracias! to Daniel Leguizamón for opening the path to Antarctica, and to Elias Barticevich, whose enthusiasm for Antarctic education is contagious. Also, I am grateful for the hospitality, friendship and innumerable conversations (and cups of tea and mate!) shared at the gateway cities with Viviana and Martin Martinazo, Denzil and Jenny Miller, Hanne Nielsen and Stephen Dodge. Your generosity is much appreciated and not forgotten. I am grateful to my supervisors, Dr Daniela Liggett and Dr Alan Hemmings, as without their encouragement and guidance this thesis would still be a work in progress. I extend my appreciation to the reviewers for challenging me to produce a better work. To Janet Bray, thank you for the professional proofreading and editing you have done, I will never forget the Oxford comma! I am sincerely grateful to Michelle Rogan-Finnemore for her understanding, encouragement and sound advice in all things Antarctica, and life. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to work with you and for opening many doors, I am in debt to you. To Gateway Antarctica, thanks for the true sense of camaraderie that I felt every day, from the academic and administrative staff to my fellow postgraduate student colleagues. You are among the best. Finally, words fail to express my gratitude to my family. A loving thank you to Macarena for backing me in another life-changing adventure, and to Peter, whose advice, endless proofreading and witty sense of humour kept me afloat. Your love, support and care makes me a better person every day. This thesis research has been part of my life for a long time. Years of pondering, traveling, collecting, reading, re-writing, observing and participating in anything and everything about the Antarctic gateways. Throughout this time there has been changes, heart breaking loses, satisfactions and much learning; my passion for Antarctica and the gateways continues intact. v Table of Contents Abstract ................................................................................................................................ iii Acknowledgments ................................................................................................................. v Table of Contents ................................................................................................................. vi Acronyms and abbreviations ................................................................................................ xi 1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Research rationale and its contribution to knowledge ................................................... 2 1.2 Aims of this thesis and research questions .................................................................... 4 1.3 Structure of the thesis ...................................................................................................