Self-determination and the Question of Sovereignty over Falkland Islands/Malvinas

Abstract

The Falkland Islands/Malvinas are situated about 500 km East of the Southern shores of the Argentine Republic. The archipelago includes two main islands: East and West Falkland, and about 200 smaller islands; the total area is about 12 173 square kilometres. The living conditions are rather hard: the windy and cold weather and rocky terrain are not the most welcoming. The economy is based on fishing and sheep farming, but in 2001 reindeer were introduced as part of the farming effort. Tourism is also a source of economic growth, along with deposits of hydrocarbons discovered in the 1990s. The Islands’ economy is self-sufficient, despite the cost of defence...