Purpose
The Antarctic Settlement Research Group is a collection of individuals interested in the eventual colonization of Earth's most southern continent.
The group maintains a small private subreddit for storing reference materials, maps, and theoretical discussion threads. The long-term goal is the
founding of a sovereign country in Antarctica with a permanent population residing there. Short-term goals include growing the research team and
demonstrating that settlement of Antarctica is feasible from a survival, economic, and cultural stance.
The group maintains a small private subreddit for storing reference materials, maps, and theoretical discussion threads. The long-term goal is the
founding of a sovereign country in Antarctica with a permanent population residing there. Short-term goals include growing the research team and
demonstrating that settlement of Antarctica is feasible from a survival, economic, and cultural stance.
FAQ
Are you serious?
Yes, why wouldn't we be?
Why Antarctica?
Several reasons; it is unclaimed in both a de jure and de facto sense, it has great potential (both from mining and tourism), and it represents the last true frontier on earth for settlement.
Objection: Antarctica can't support life!
The interior of the continent can't support life but the coastal areas can, and do, support life. Great progress has been made with using greenhouses to grow food in extreme conditions for instance. Much of the research here looks at the ability of Antarctica to support life.
Will anyone in the international community even recognize your country diplomatically?
Not at first and perhaps not for a long time. Recognizing an Antarctic settlement as sovereign is akin to recognizing the Antarctic Treaty has failed. Luckily, 'recognition' plays little part in short and mid-range settlement plans. The country will keep growing even without recognition. At some point engaging with the country, rather than ignoring it, becomes the more sensible option. In short, as long as a country isn't actively trying to remove the settlement it matters little if other countries don't recognize it.
Isn't living in Antarctica kind of a bleak prospect?
Any place can be bleak depending on the circumstances. Western Canada; great place to live but the heat waves over the last few years makes living there absolute hell. A person who enjoys winter may well consider Antarctica to be paradise. A great deal of stress present in Antarctic research stations stems from being separated from loved ones and living temporarily with strangers. Build a community of people and even a frozen wasteland can be home.
Why is the proposed country a monarchy?
Simply put, monarchy is the best system of government known to man and if this settlement is to have the best chance of success it would be foolhardy to adopt any other. [1][2][3][4]
Yes, why wouldn't we be?
Why Antarctica?
Several reasons; it is unclaimed in both a de jure and de facto sense, it has great potential (both from mining and tourism), and it represents the last true frontier on earth for settlement.
Objection: Antarctica can't support life!
The interior of the continent can't support life but the coastal areas can, and do, support life. Great progress has been made with using greenhouses to grow food in extreme conditions for instance. Much of the research here looks at the ability of Antarctica to support life.
Will anyone in the international community even recognize your country diplomatically?
Not at first and perhaps not for a long time. Recognizing an Antarctic settlement as sovereign is akin to recognizing the Antarctic Treaty has failed. Luckily, 'recognition' plays little part in short and mid-range settlement plans. The country will keep growing even without recognition. At some point engaging with the country, rather than ignoring it, becomes the more sensible option. In short, as long as a country isn't actively trying to remove the settlement it matters little if other countries don't recognize it.
Isn't living in Antarctica kind of a bleak prospect?
Any place can be bleak depending on the circumstances. Western Canada; great place to live but the heat waves over the last few years makes living there absolute hell. A person who enjoys winter may well consider Antarctica to be paradise. A great deal of stress present in Antarctic research stations stems from being separated from loved ones and living temporarily with strangers. Build a community of people and even a frozen wasteland can be home.
Why is the proposed country a monarchy?
Simply put, monarchy is the best system of government known to man and if this settlement is to have the best chance of success it would be foolhardy to adopt any other. [1][2][3][4]
Membership
Membership in the Antarctic Settlement Research Group sits at 27 as of February 15th, 2022.