PUBLICATIONS
April 1999 Issue
The Geographical Review
April 1999, Vol. 89 (1), pp. 254-264
SPECIAL ISSUE - OCEANS CONNECT
LINES OF DIVISION, LINES OF CONNECTION: STEWARDSHIP IN THE WORLD OCEAN
Philip E. Steinberg
Keywords: marine governance, marine history, ocean space, stewardship, Treaty of Tordesillas.
ABSTRACT:
This article investigates the history of drawing lines across ocean space. Although drawing lines generally is perceived as an act of division--as
exemplified by the line drawn through the Atlantic Ocean by Pope Alexander VI in 1493--lines, like the ocean itself, often signify connection or other, more complex
social relationships. In an attempt to break through commonly held perspectives on line drawing in marine governance, I suggest that key events (and lines) of
modern marine history are characterized by a common norm of stewardship. I conclude by considering the flexibility of stewardship and by alerting the reader to
alternate norms that could be used to generate ocean-governance systems.
Keywords: marine governance, marine history, ocean space, stewardship, Treaty of Tordesillas.
ABSTRACT:
This article investigates the history of drawing lines across ocean space. Although drawing lines generally is perceived as an act of division--as exemplified by the line drawn through the Atlantic Ocean by Pope Alexander VI in 1493--lines, like the ocean itself, often signify connection or other, more complex social relationships. In an attempt to break through commonly held perspectives on line drawing in marine governance, I suggest that key events (and lines) of modern marine history are characterized by a common norm of stewardship. I conclude by considering the flexibility of stewardship and by alerting the reader to alternate norms that could be used to generate ocean-governance systems.